This week is National Food Bank Week, a reminder to start thinking about the ways we can help others as the holiday season approaches. Food banks are, sadly, an all too necessary and common feature of life in the United States today, where low wages leave too many families forced to choose between paying bills and buying groceries.
Every human being has a fundamental right to be free from hunger and the right to adequate food. That means having enough money to buy food, but also having access to grocery stores and the time and resources to cook healthy meals. Nutritious food can be expensive, making a balanced diet a luxury for many. Loss of a job, a family tragedy, poor health, or an accident can leave anyone unsure of where the next meal is coming from.
We know better than anyone how hard UFCW members work to put food on the table for America’s families – and our union family also believes that no hardworking man or woman should struggle alone.
In 2016, in partnership with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) in their “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive, UFCW members helped break a Guinness World Record—80 million pounds of food collected for the largest single day food drive in world history.
Thank you to all the volunteers and staff of the food banks who so many depend on. By working together, we know we can get rid of hunger in our communities.