September is Hunger Action Month, a time when communities across the country come together to raise awareness about food insecurity and take meaningful action to help ensure that everyone has access to the nutritious food they need. Here in Saratoga County, hunger may not always be visible—but it is real. According to the latest food insecurity data, approximately 16,716 Saratoga County residents struggled with food insecurity in 2024. That means thousands of our neighbors, including working families, children, and older adults, may not always know where their next meal will come from.
This September, Franklin Community Center is inviting our community to take part in a simple but meaningful challenge: Build a Box for Hunger Action Month! The idea is easy. Each day in September, add one suggested item to a box at home. By the end of the month, you’ll have a collection of food and household essentials ready to donate to Franklin Community Center’s Food Pantry.
Our daily calendar includes much-needed items such as cereal, peanut butter, rice, diapers, canned goods, snacks, pasta, toilet paper, shampoo, laundry detergent, and more. We know that household and personal care items can place an additional strain on already stretched budgets, which is why this challenge includes both food and essential non-food items. You don’t have to purchase every item on the list—even a few donations can make a difference. Consider inviting your family, friends, coworkers, classroom, or workplace to join the challenge and collect items throughout the month. At the end of September, simply drop off your box at Franklin Community Center’s Food Pantry, located at 10 Franklin Street in Saratoga Springs.
Hunger Action Month reminds us that fighting food insecurity takes all of us. One item. One box. One neighbor at a time. Join us this September and help fill our Food Pantry with hope, nourishment, and essential resources for our community.
To learn more about food insecurity in our region and explore county-level data, visit the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York’s Food Insecurity by County resource.
