By Susie Hovater Malone
Lifestyles Columnist

Hunger is deeply connected to health. People who are hungry are highly impacted by diet-sensitive chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. When people do not have enough money, they have to choose cheaper food with lower nutritional value which can impact their health.

Food insecurity also has a devastating impact on children. Lack of healthy food can affect a child’s mental and physical health, their performance at school and limit their future possibilities.

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) is united in its dedication to volunteer community service.  The National Day of Service is a day in which GFWC clubs come together in service to highlight an area of need, take action to address it, and raise public awareness about its importance.

As of to date, more than 650 (still counting) GFWC clubs, districts, and state federations are registered to work together on September 30, 2023, to support GFWC’s National Day of Service to end food insecurity.

GFWC Delaware Club Members attended the Delaware Senate and House of Representatives to submit the GFWC Delaware Resolution to address the issue of food insecurity in the State of Delaware.

The Senate Concurrent Resolution 84 was read by the Senate and House and adopted into the record of the Delaware Legislature on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 to support the GFWC National Day of Service on September 23rd.

Three GFWC Florida District 12 Woman’s Clubs teamed up to request a proclamation from their County Commissioners regarding September 30th, 2023, as The General Federation of Women’s Clubs National Day of Service to Stamp out Hunger and Food Insecurity.

The GFWC Alabama clubs will participate in the National Day of Service by encouraging clubwomen to volunteer for community, state, schools and church food banks. The GFWC Book Lovers Study Club members will support ending food insecurity locally.

Everyone is encouraged to get involved with ending food insecurity. Contact your local food banks, food pantries or wherever people go for food to find out the best way to be of service. Food drives welcome support, donation of time and food. Also, social media will be used to discuss food insecurity with members of the community, clubs, schools, church groups and others.

Raise awareness about hunger through media by promoting advocacy to end food insecurity. GFWC members use the Legislative Action Center to interact with federal and state elected officials to advance a bill or introduce legislation that helps to end hunger by funding programs specific to the issue.

Others supporting this issue are The U.S. Department of Agriculture; Office of Disease Preventing and Health Promotion, National Public Radio; and Food Insecurity in the U.S. By the Numbers.

The benefits of community service not only make a person feel good, but it helps to build meaningful friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime plus help people in need.