Want to make 2024 the year where you help fight hunger? Or simply looking to add a couple more new year’s resolutions to your list? Move For Hunger has some ideas to help you out.
Creating New Year’s Resolutions is a great way to not only improve your own life, but also the lives of others. By incorporating some of these goals into your life, you can help the 44 million people that are food insecure in the United States.
1. Begin the year with a fridge clean out
Have any food laying around that has been sitting in your pantry and will most likely throw out? The answer is probably yes.
It’s the new year which means it is time to declutter your space. Go through your pantry and fridge and see if there are any non-perishable foods that you can donate to your local food bank. You can find the nearest food bank by clicking here.
80 million tons of food go to waste in the United States every year, according to Feeding America, which equals to 149 billion meals.
Once you begin your year with a fridge clean out, make a resolution to do this once a month!
2. Set a schedule to volunteer at a soup kitchen or food bank
Create a new year's resolution to volunteer at your local food bank or soup kitchen. You can decide how often you want to do this, but anything helps.
You can find a food bank near you by using Feeding America’s food bank finder.
44 million people face hunger every day in the United States. Volunteering can support the organizations that are helping these people.
3. Buy a non-perishable item every time you visit the grocery store
4. Run a Marathon
Chances are running a marathon might already be on your list. So why not turn your miles into meals while you do it by joining the Move For Hunger race team!
Team Move For Hunger has entries available for some of the most popular marathons, half marathons, and 5Ks in the country (and internationally!). The funds raised by our team will provide Move For Hunger with the resources we need to organize food drives, coordinate food rescues, and expand our network.
5. Try a zero-waste activity once a week
There are so many different activities to choose from to reduce your food waste. Trying different activities once a week can not only reduce your imprint on the world.
Try a zero waste recipe from our Zero Waste Kitchen site, start a garden, try composting, or create your own cleaning products with food scraps like lemons!
6. Shop local - visit a farmer’s market!
Not only will the food be fresher, tastier, more sustainable, and way more nutritious, but you would be supporting your local community!
Fruits and vegetables begin to lose their nutrients within 24 hours of being picked, so fresher produce is more nutritious, according to Virtua Health. Air, artificial lights, and temperature changes during transport lower a food’s nutritional value. Not only are the local foods healthier because of the short distance traveled, but also because there is less exposure to chemicals, gasses, or waxes used to preserve food for long-distance transport.
You can also try and only buy produce that is in season. This is not only more cost-effective but the produce is also higher quality. Fruits and vegetables that are grown out of season are typically sprayed with chemicals to enhance growth, causing them to be less nutritious and flavorful.
7. Host your own food drive
Move For Hunger can help you organize your own food drive! Hunger exists in every state in the United States. Your local food banks, shelters, and soup kitchens rely on the donations they receive from people like you.
Food drives are a great way to raise awareness about hunger and inspire others to take action! Learn how to host your own food drive by clicking here.
You can also hold your own fundraisers to provide Move For Hunger with the resources we need to organize food drives, coordinate food rescues, raise awareness about hunger & food waste, and expand our network.
Little changes in your everyday life can help fight hunger, and every person makes a difference. Looking for more ways to fight hunger in 2024? Check out our other blog!
