Recognizing Hunger Action Month, 2026

September is #HungerActionMonth–a time to reflect on the needs in our community and take action to help all of our neighbors thrive!

It has been almost a year since sudden disruptions in SNAP disbursements thrust thousands of families into crisis nationwide. In the midst of that uncertainty, we saw just how much care this community has for its neighbors. Hundreds of people donated so we could purchase fresh food for families affected by the disruption, volunteered all day to ensure everyone received high-quality groceries, and continued to show up for PORCH long after the emergency distribution ended. When our neighbors needed help, this community acted.

It’s in that spirit that we observe Hunger Action Month this year. Since last fall’s SNAP crisis, thousands more families across North Carolina have lost benefits as cuts to vital assistance programs continue. Here in Chapelboro, the need is greater than ever, and we anticipate a busy month ahead as school social workers work diligently to identify students who need additional support and connect their families with community resources like PORCH.

This Hunger Action Month, we invite you to join us in the fight against hunger in our community. Thank you for helping our whole community thrive!

Volunteer

Each month, PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro provides groceries to more than 800 families and thousands of pounds of nonperishable food to more than 15 smaller, local pantries. This month, we’ll also be holding our biannual school snack distribution. None of these programs would be possible without our incredible community of volunteers!

There are plenty of ways to lend a hand throughout the month, whether you’re looking for a shift that will break a sweat or one that’s a little more low-key. We have morning, evening, and weekend shifts, as well as opportunities for groups to volunteer together. You can see all of our available volunteer shifts at this link: https://pointapp.org/orgs/4680

Donate

Want to host a food drive benefitting PORCH? We have all the tools you need–from editable flyers and a list of our most-needed items to a donation drop-off form–on our website: https://chapelhill.porchcommunities.org/monthly-food-drive

We rely on donations from neighbors like you to be able to provide fresh meat, milk, eggs, and specialty produce to our families each month. In September, we will be purchasing fresh eggs, dairy milk, soy milk, almond milk, chicken thighs, Halal chicken, chicken patties, ground turkey, ground beef, fish sticks, and tofu so that our families have lots of choices for their dairy and protein! Help us continue to welcome every family into our program that is referred to us by donating at this link: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E353731&id=1. 

Connect

Did you know that more than 125 neighborhoods across Chapelboro participate in monthly food drives that benefit PORCH? Our network of Neighborhood Coordinators facilitate these recurring food drives to make sure our non-perishable shelves stay stocked and collectively bring in around 10,000 lbs of donations each month! If you would like to connect with your neighborhood’s existing PORCH food drives or start food drives in your neighborhood, you can read more at this link: https://chapelhill.porchcommunities.org/neighborhood-coordinators. 

Share

Hunger doesn’t have one face, and it’s important to know what resources are available for our families, neighbors, and friends. Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with local food, housing, health, and other community resources so you’ll be ready to point someone in the right direction when they need it. The Orange County Extension Office has put together a great list of local food resources to get you started. Check it out at this link: https://orange.ces.ncsu.edu/foodsecurity/find-food-in-orange-county/