September is Hunger Action Month, a national call to raise awareness about food insecurity and inspire action to help end hunger. In the Kansas City region, United Way Impact 100 partner Harvesters—The Community Food Network plays a critical role in helping neighbors access healthy, nutritious food. This fall, Harvesters welcomed new president and CEO Debbie Espinosa. Here, she shares her perspective on rising food assistance needs, changes to SNAP benefits, and how community partnerships can create lasting solutions to hunger.
Why Hunger Action Month Matters in Kansas City
Hunger Action Month is a call to turn awareness into action for people facing food insecurity in Kansas City and across the region. Hunger can be an invisible challenge, but every neighbor deserves reliable access to healthy, nutritious food and the opportunity to thrive.
Coming back to Kansas City, what has stood out to me most is the innovation, resilience, passion and genuine love that people and organizations have for this community. There is a real commitment to improving the conditions that help people, neighborhoods, and the entire Kansas City region to thrive.
Rising Food Assistance Needs and SNAP Benefit Changes
Right now, the need for food assistance continues to grow. With changes significantly impacting SNAP benefits, the role Harvesters—The Community Food Network plays as a regional food bank is more important than ever.
What concerns me most is the growing gap between the cost of living and what people are able to earn. Housing, food, utilities and other basic needs continue to rise, while wages are not always keeping pace. As a result, more individuals and families are struggling to consistently put healthy food on the table.
At the same time, recent federal legislation is creating changes to SNAP and Medicaid benefits administration. We have already seen thousands of people lose benefits entirely. As more changes take effect, even more individuals and families may turn to Harvesters and our partner organizations for help. We are doing everything we can to understand the changes, prepare our organization and partners, and make sure elected officials understand the pressures being created for our communities.
Ultimately, it will take all of us to ensure people have access to the healthy food they need. People are already struggling with hunger, and more people are at risk. But I am hopeful our community will come together so no one in the Kansas City region has to go hungry.
Building Long-Term Food Security
True food security happens when people have reliable access to healthy and nutritious food. It gives individuals, children, and families the ability not just to survive, but to thrive. When people are healthy and have the resources to build stability, they have greater opportunities to overcome food insecurity and contribute to their families and communities. That is why the work at Harvesters is about more than putting food on the table; it is about creating pathways to healthier, more stable lives.
If we want to end hunger for the long term, we have to do more than respond to the urgent, immediate need. We have to use our position, knowledge, and relationships to bring people together around solutions that address the root causes of hunger and create meaningful change.
How United Way and Harvesters Work Together to Fight Hunger
United Way is a valuable partner in the fight against hunger because, much like Harvesters, the organization is woven into the fabric of this community. United Way has a unique ability to bring together organizations with expertise in different areas so we can serve our neighbors more holistically. Hunger rarely exists in isolation, and neither should the solutions. When we work together, we can connect people to a broader range of resources, convene partners, build collaboration, and work toward our shared goal of creating a more resilient community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
How to Help During Hunger Action Month
There are several ways to make an impact during Hunger Action Month and beyond. You can donate, volunteer, advocate or share information about food insecurity in Kansas City. Whether you give your time, treasure or voice, your contributions help Harvesters, United Way and community partners supporting neighbors facing hunger and connecting more people with the healthy food they need.