During September, the Falls Hunger Coalition is joining a large group effort to end hunger by participating in Hunger Action Month.

Nancy Anderson, executive director of the Falls Hunger Coalition, explained that the goal of Hunger Action Month is to make people aware of the hunger issue and inform them of what they can do to help.

“We all need to take action to eliminate hunger in the community and throughout the state,” Anderson explained.

While the food shelf has had a busy few weeks, Anderson is hoping that during Hunger Action Month, more people will donate towards the cause.

“Gardens are coming to fruition and it would be great to have fresh produce donated,” Anderson said. “We don’t get a lot of that.”

And while she hopes donations are plentiful during the month, she stressed that hunger is a year-long concern. She said that it is not just during the holidays that people need assistance and she hopes to make the community more aware of that.

“There are a number of people in the community that need help and support all year round,” she said.

Minnesota is one of the better states in addressing the issue of hunger, Anderson noted. However, like many organizations suffering because of budget cuts, the food shelf is making a stronger effort to make up for lost funding.

“We’re all kind of scrambling to find ways to compensate in day-to-day budgets,” Anderson said. “That is when community support helps the most. We are asking people to think about us (food shelf).”

Anderson said that by the end of the month, she hopes a combination of 4,000 pounds of food and dollars can be collected to help hungry individuals and families within the community.

“What is donated locally, stays local,” Anderson said. “There really isn’t a reason people need to go hungry and we will do our best to make sure nobody has to.”

“We always appreciated the support that the food shelf receives,” Anderson added. “We just ask for the continued support and understanding of our community. Our doors are open because people do care.”

Anyone wishing to take part in Hunger Action Month, or to donate at any time, can do so by dropping off food or monetary donations to the Falls Hunger Coalition located at 1000 Fifth Street in the lower level of the Forestland Building. Anderson can be reached at 283-8020 for more information.