Waynesboro, Virginia -- September 2023..Belinda McCarthy lives with her grandsons in Wayneboro, Virginia...CREDIT: Alyssa Schukar for Feeding America Suburban, Summer, Summer Meal, Family, black, Face, Grass, Head, Pants, People, Person, Photography, Portrait, T-Shirt, Tree Waynesboro, Virginia -- September 2023..Belinda McCarthy lives with her grandsons in Wayneboro, Virginia...CREDIT: Alyssa Schukar for Feeding America Belinda cradles a framed photocopy of a news article from years ago. Behind the glass is a story from the local paper in Waynesboro, Virginia; it’s about her grandmother, Beatrice. Belinda calls her “Grandma B.” “My grandmother was a loving woman, and she showed me love,” Belinda said. The story Belinda holds is a celebration of Beatrice’s career as a midwife. She delivered 397 babies throughout her career in healthcare – including Belinda. She was kind, loving and always willing to help. And her big heart extended to her home life, too – she raised Belinda and her siblings. “Grandma B was the world for us. She was our glue,” Belinda said. “She loved everyone in Waynesboro. She took care of our family. She taught us how to love each other and to take care of anyone – it didn’t matter who they were.” Years later, Belinda is the glue “Grandma B” once was. It’s a late summer Sunday and Belinda is making dinner in her apartment – spaghetti night – while her three grandsons orbit the kitchen and bounce around the adjoining family room, waiting to eat. The kids, Tyleeq, Draalyn and A.J. are 13, 9 and 6 respectively. While their father is around occasionally, Belinda is their primary caregiver – a common situation in the United States. According to USDA data, food insecurity in households led by a single female was up 37 percent compared to 2021. “Tyleeq, he’s on top, he helps take care of the other ones,” Belinda said. “Draylin? He’s so huggable. He just wants to hug everyone. And A.J.? He’s grandma’s baby. He’s always wanting, ‘Grandma, grandma, grandma!’” Not surprisingly, the three
For many, a daily meal is just a choice of what to eat for dinner. But for people facing hunger, a daily meal poses a very different type of choice. It is often an impossible choice between food and other critical needs such as electricity, childcare or medicine.
Tuesday, September 1, marks the start of Hunger Action Month. Food Bank for the Heartland is proud to partner with Feeding America to inspire people to take action and raise awareness for millions of Americans facing the impossible choice of hunger. Join the Food Bank in helping neighbors in need.
Check out the ways you can take action in September. Collective efforts will help raise awareness about food insecurity and inspire others to get involved.
September 4: Stuff the Truck event
Join the Food Bank at Baker’s Pepperwood location (156th & Dodge) from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, to purchase and donate nonperishable items. It is a quick, convenient way to give back.
Omaha Restaurant Week, a 10-day celebration highlighting Omaha’s growing culinary scene, will donate 5% of its proceeds to the Food Bank. Click here to view a list of participating restaurants and dine out for a cause.
September 11–25: The Foodies’ PB&J Challenge
The Foodies’ PB&J Challenge is back. It helps provide nourishing food to the 1 in 5 children facing hunger across the service area. Click here to learn more and find out where you can drop off donations.
Community support and volunteer opportunities
In support of Hunger Action Month, buildings and structures around Omaha will be lighting up orange. Click here to view the list of Omaha buildings that will be lit up orange throughout September.
Volunteering at the Food Bank in September includes a chance to be featured on social media. Volunteers are encouraged to snap a group photo in front of the backdrop and include it in social media posts. Connect with the Food Bank’s channels here.
This content is sourced from
Food Bank for the Heartland
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
Waynesboro, Virginia -- September 2023..Belinda McCarthy lives with her grandsons in Wayneboro, Virginia...CREDIT: Alyssa Schukar for Feeding America Suburban, Summer, Summer Meal, Family, black, Face, Grass, Head, Pants, People, Person, Photography, Portrait, T-Shirt, Tree Waynesboro, Virginia -- September 2023..Belinda McCarthy lives with her grandsons in Wayneboro, Virginia...CREDIT: Alyssa Schukar for Feeding America Belinda cradles a framed photocopy of a news article from years ago. Behind the glass is a story from the local paper in Waynesboro, Virginia; it’s about her grandmother, Beatrice. Belinda calls her “Grandma B.” “My grandmother was a loving woman, and she showed me love,” Belinda said. The story Belinda holds is a celebration of Beatrice’s career as a midwife. She delivered 397 babies throughout her career in healthcare – including Belinda. She was kind, loving and always willing to help. And her big heart extended to her home life, too – she raised Belinda and her siblings. “Grandma B was the world for us. She was our glue,” Belinda said. “She loved everyone in Waynesboro. She took care of our family. She taught us how to love each other and to take care of anyone – it didn’t matter who they were.” Years later, Belinda is the glue “Grandma B” once was. It’s a late summer Sunday and Belinda is making dinner in her apartment – spaghetti night – while her three grandsons orbit the kitchen and bounce around the adjoining family room, waiting to eat. The kids, Tyleeq, Draalyn and A.J. are 13, 9 and 6 respectively. While their father is around occasionally, Belinda is their primary caregiver – a common situation in the United States. According to USDA data, food insecurity in households led by a single female was up 37 percent compared to 2021. “Tyleeq, he’s on top, he helps take care of the other ones,” Belinda said. “Draylin? He’s so huggable. He just wants to hug everyone. And A.J.? He’s grandma’s baby. He’s always wanting, ‘Grandma, grandma, grandma!’” Not surprisingly, the three
