We identify May as Hunger Awareness Month because the spring and summer months are typically a slower time for food drives and food donations, resulting in emptier food pantry shelves. Unfortunately, these dips in donations can occur when our community needs them as the school year ends.

In Pierce County, 49% of students receive free or reduced-cost meals through programs at school. While summer meal programs are available to replace these meals, data from the Food Research & Action Center shows that, prior to the pandemic, summer meal programs served only 1 in 7 students enrolled in school meal programs. During the summer months, food pantries become particularly critical for parents to feed their families when not receiving support from school meals.

Hunger Walk • May 2022
The 2022 Hunger Walk & 5K will be held virtually with fun virtual walk and run opportunities being held throughout the month of May. Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Lakewood/HungerWalk5KRun

GiveBIG to EFN • May 3-4, 2022
Make a donation to EFN on GiveBIG day, an annual online giving event for nonprofits in the Greater Seattle area. Learn more: https://www.wagives.org/organization/emergency-food-network

Grow Your Food veggie starts • April 13 – June 18
Starts will be available at EFN’s Community Garden and various Pierce County Gardens. Learn more:

Stamp Out Hunger Letter Carriers’ Food Drive • May 2022
The “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive returns this spring on Saturday, May 14, 2022! In Pierce County, Emergency Food Network works closely with Union Branch 130 to collect and share more than 200,000 pounds of food with our Partner Programs! Learn more: https://efoodnet.org/get-involved/lcfd/