By Virginia Lascara
virginia.lascara@insidebiz.com
September is Hunger Action Month, and many local businesses are turning orange in support. This year, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore will encourage businesses to promote Hunger Action Month in a myriad of ways, including sponsorships, social media action and volunteering.
Two hundred foodbanks across America, in partnership with Feeding America, have now trademarked the term "Turn orange for hunger relief." They encourage everyone to join the fight against hunger by wearing orange, using the social media hashtag #hungeraction and tinting Facebook profile pictures orange.
"Orange is the new pink," said Julie Braley, communications manager for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, referring to the color well known for boosting breast cancer awareness.
On Sept. 4, Wells Fargo will once again light the top of its downtown Norfolk building orange, as will the Virginia Beach Convention Center, Eastern Shore Community College and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore on Tidewater Drive. The hosts of "The Hampton Roads Show" on FOX 43 News will promote the color and feature special segments all month about hunger in the community.
Payday Payroll, located in Virginia Beach, will include an article about Hunger Action Month in its September newsletter and Stihl employees will support the effort through social media posts.
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia's online toolkit, found on its website, www.foodbankonline.org/NewsAndEvents/Events/HungerActionMonth.aspx, features a Hunger Action Month launch letter template to help organizations explain their involvement. The foodbank will once again provide a "30 ways in 30 days" calendar to help share advocacy ideas. Approved logos and images are available online to use in promotional materials.
This will be the second year Hunger Action Month will focus on creating mass advocacy through social media. Individuals and businesses can use sample Facebook and Twitter cover images, profile pictures and graphics to share with an online audience.
Additional easy-to-implement hunger relief ideas are available in the online toolkit, for instance, holding a decorating competition to turn the office orange.
"The typical route is an office food drive, but we also have a virtual food and fund drive where people can shop and make donations online," Braley said. "For every $10 we receive we can distribute $60 worth of food for those in need."
The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank has also partnered with local businesses to support Hunger Action Month. Langley Speedway in Hampton will offer a $2 discount on tickets for those who make donations at the Sept. 13 race and the Gloucester Sheriff's Department will hold its annual HAM food drive.
On Sept. 25, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank will host Shag at the Foodbank where attendees can dine, dance and donate. To register, visit www.shagatthefoodbank.com.
On Sept. 4, the Federation of Virginia Food Banks will hold its 4th Annual Elected Officials Volunteer Day, where elected officials across the commonwealth are invited to spend the day volunteering with friends and family, wearing orange of course. Local elected officials are encouraged to volunteer at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.