September is Hunger Action Month (Sept. 1–30) – a time when Feeding America food banks and their supporters across the nation unite to shine a spotlight on hunger in our communities and amplify the voices of those who too often go unheard. Hunger Action Month is not just about raising awareness; it’s about action. It’s about recognizing that every one of us has the power to make a difference and that when we come together, the impact is transformational.
Here at Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, we know hunger is real. It’s in the faces of parents quietly skipping meals so their kids can eat. It’s in the choices seniors must make between filling a prescription and filling a pantry. It’s in the stress felt by working families who simply can’t stretch their paychecks far enough. Hunger does not discriminate. It touches every corner of our 11-county service area. And yet, the solutions are also within our reach, because of people like YOU.
Now more than ever, we are counting on our community members to stand with us. Every hour served, every dollar given, every voice raised, every story shared, and every day dedicated moves us closer to a hunger-free future. That is the Power of YOU—a collective force that fuels real and measurable change.
The Food Bank’s most recent annual report demonstrates just how much can be accomplished when people rally together. In FY2025 (July 2024–June 2025), we distributed 53 million meals across our 11-county service area: the largest number in our history. This milestone surpassed the previous record high in FY2024 by five million meals. To put it in perspective, in FY2020 – the year the pandemic began – we distributed 40 million meals. The need has continued to rise but so has our ability to respond. 
Together with your support, here’s what your Food Bank accomplished in the past fiscal year:
- 53 million meals distributed across our region
- More than 15,500 direct calls answered for food assistance
- 18 million pounds of fresh produce distributed – a 2-million-pound increase from the previous year
- 20.5 million pounds of food rescued that would otherwise have gone to waste
- 2.4 million meals provided through The Market, serving 28,710 neighbors with dignity and choice
- More than 19,000 youth supported through backpack programs, school pantries, fresh markets, and onsite food distributions
These numbers tell an important story not only of rising need but also of our community’s strength and resilience. Behind each number is a person, a family, a child or a senior whose life has been touched because someone took the time to act.
“These numbers serve as a wake-up call. Food insecurity isn’t just hitting close to home. It’s in our own homes. It’s in our neighbors’ kitchens. It’s in our schools. It’s our job to stand up to hunger and make sure our neighbors have the food they need to thrive in these financially strained times,” said President and CEO Lisa Scales.
This year, Hunger Action Month takes on even greater urgency. Recent federal funding cuts to SNAP and other nutrition programs mean many families will lose vital support. For them, even a small change in monthly benefits can mean the difference between three meals a day and two. It can mean a child goes to bed hungry or a senior is forced to go without medication. These are choices no one should have to make and together, we can ensure they don’t.
That’s why The Power of YOU matters so deeply. The Power of YOU is about more than generosity -it’s about solidarity. It unites volunteers, donors, advocates, neighbors and staff in one shared mission: to leverage the power of community to achieve lasting solutions to hunger and its root causes. By stepping up, you become a force for change, opening the door to communities where everyone has access to the food and resources they need to thrive.
Hunger may be a complex challenge, but the solution is simple: it’s all of us working together. Whether you volunteer your time, make a gift, advocate for stronger nutrition programs or simply share the story of hunger in our community, your actions ripple outward. One person inspires another. One act of kindness creates momentum. One voice joins a chorus demanding change. That is The Power of YOU.
This September, we invite you to be part of this movement. Stand with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Stand with your neighbors. Stand with families who need us now more than ever. Because when YOU take action, hope multiplies.
👉 Visit us here to see how YOU can make change in your community.