GUEST BLOG: Actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley kicks off Hunger Action Month
September 3, 2010
Meet the new member of the Feeding America team: Brian Pulaski, a Media Relations intern and recent graduate of Augustana College. Brian headed with other national office members to Nashville, Tenn. to support the Feeding America Hunger Action Month kick-off. Here is his account of the event:
Signs of a successful Hunger Action Month kick-off event to come were signaled even before the Feeding America team stepped foot into the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. The front lawn of the food bank was covered with a countless amount of Hunger Action Month signage – they were definitely prepared for the day’s festivities. This impression carried through immediately as we walked in the door to see the friendly food bank staff running around and hard at work all decked out in Hunger Action Month “30 Ways in 30 Days” bright orange shirts. After a quick briefing on the run of show from the food bank’s Director of Marketing and Communication, Tasha Kennard, it was apparent that Second Harvest Food Bank had put in a lot of effort to ensure that Hunger Action Month would be kicked off without any problems.
As 11 a.m. approached, volunteers flooded into the food bank’s packing room along with the star of the event, Feeding America Entertainment Council Member Kimberly Williams-Paisley. As the packing portion of the day progressed, we witnessed a dedicated group of volunteers working hard to fight hunger! In addition to Kimberly’s great work, country star Marlee Scott and singer Jordan Pruitt stopped by to help as well.
After the volunteer packing was completed, we were joined by dozens more people interested in Hunger Action Month including Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, corporate partners and others just interested in hunger in America. To enter the shoes of someone struggling to get food, all attendees participated in a “Soup Kitchen Experience” where we were served a spaghetti lunch in the same style as someone who relies on soup kitchens to receive food.
The presentation part of the event started off with a powerful exercise, which asked all of those who had been given a “Number 1″ out of 6 stamp on his or her hand to stand up and show to all of those in attendance what 1 in 6 Americans struggling with hunger really looks like. After a presentation including the food bank’s COO Matt Bourlakas and Feeding America national office CSO Matt Knott, things concluded with optional tours of the food bank.
All in all, it was a very successful Hunger Action Month kick-off. None of it could have been done, however, without the tremendous effort of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee staff.
This Hunger Action Month, Brian pledges to eat less to remember those who do not have a choice, but instead are forced to live with an inadequate amount of food.
September is Hunger Action Month. Throughout the month, the Feeding America network of more than 200 food banks is asking you to take action through the “30 Ways in 30 Days” campaign. Whether it’s by advocating and raising awareness, making a donation or giving your time, find the way that’s right for you to make a difference in your community. On the blog this month we will feature a story each day about Hunger Action Month, our own 30 Ways in 30 Days.Visit the Hunger Action Month website for more information.Record your pledge, upload your video and post a link in the comments below.
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