FOOD Share Ventura County kicks off Hunger Action Month, welcomes U.S. Congresswoman Lois Capps

Online, August 27, 2010 (Newswire.com) - (OXNARD, Calif.) - Embracing the idea that anyone can bring about positive change by small daily actions of getting involved with feeding hungry friends and neighbors, FOOD Share in Ventura COunty, Calif. asks the public to step up and take action against hunger throughout September in honor of National Hunger Action Month.

To further highlight the growing need, U.S. Congresswoman Lois Capps will visit FOOD Share´s Oxnard headquarters in September.

Congresswoman Capps voted for the Recovery Act, which provided $300 million to states for their SNAP program in 2009 and 2010. Also, Capps recently signed a letter sent to U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urging for swift passage of the Improving Nutrition for America´s Children Act, which makes crucial improvements to school lunch and breakfast programs, the summer food service program, the child and adult care food program (CACFP), and WIC.

FOOD Share also will host a volunteer event from Noon to 4 p.m. on Sept. 11. Volunteers can help sort non-perishable food items for distribution to the 150 partner agencies served through Food Share´s Oxnard warehouse.

By sharing 30 simple ways in 30 days, Ventura County´s only regional food bank hopes to engage the community to take action against the area´s growing hunger problem. Whether it is skipping a morning latte and donating the saved cost, growing a home or community garden and sharing the harvest or volunteering at the community food bank, FOOD Share knows the combined efforts of many individuals can make a positive impact in fighting hunger right here at home.

A 30-day Hunger Action Month calendar posted on FOOD Share´s Web site, http://www.foodshare.com, offers simple suggestions that anyone can implement and share with family, co-workers or friends.

"We are very blessed to live in a community where people look out for one another," said Bonnie Weigel, CEO of FOOD Share. "Unfortunately, the ranks of Ventura County´s hungry are growing and, as a result, we continue to seek even greater support from individuals, businesses and partner agencies to meet this urgent need."

For more information about FOOD Share and their volunteer opportunities, call Meg Horton, Food Share volunteer coordinator at (805) 983-7100.

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About FOOD Share
A major food bank distributing millions of pounds of food each year to those in need throughout Ventura County, FOOD Share collects and receives food year-round, distributing to more than 150 partner agencies throughout Ventura County, including Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Oak View, Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Somis, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura.

FOOD Share provides food to nearly 55,000 people each month countywide through its partner agencies and multiple programs. Programs include the Senior Brown Bag, which provides supplemental nutrition to nearly 2,000 low income seniors, and Snack Attack programs that offer healthy nutritious after-school snacks to approximately 2,200 children. Information: (805) 983-7100 or www.foodshare.com.