September is Hunger Awareness Month

Tonight, one in seven children will go to bed hungry, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You can do something about it.

Hunger does not just affect children; it affects people of all ages. It does not just affect people in third world countries; it affects people everywhere, including right here in Melrose. Hunger and malnutrition can have devastating and lifelong effects.

You can help by participating in the 20th annual Walk for Bread & 5K Fun Run to benefit the Bread of Life on Sunday, Sept. 30 at Pine Banks.

Last week, members of the Bread of Life came before the Board of Aldermen to accept a resolution I presented recognizing September 2012 as Hunger Awareness Month in Melrose. Bread of Life President and Malden City Councillor John Matheson shared with us some startling statistics of just how many meals are delivered weekly to the hungry right here in Melrose.The Bread of Life, based in Malden, provides meals, serves as a food pantry and delivers both meals and groceries. In 2011, they delivered the equivalent of 891,000 meals to communities north of Boston.

Sunday, you can do something as simple as walking or running to help provide awareness to the problem of hunger and support the Bread of Life to help them sustain and increase their outreach.

Registration for walkers is free and for runners it costs $15 in advance or $20 the day of the event. Walkers or runners may seek sponsors as well. Registration is at noon, and the event starts at 1 p.m. Register on the Bread of Life website.

Too busy on Sunday? You can also make a donation using the registration link. No amount is too little or too much. Take action and you can feel good that you did something to make a difference.