Hunger Action Day highlights everyday efforts of local nonprofit

JACKSON, Tenn. — A national organization has named Sept. 8 as Hunger Action Day.

National Hunger Action Day is a chance for people all over the world to raise awareness of food insecurity, but this is an issue the Regional Inter-Faith Association, better known as RIFA, battles every day.

“I’m glad that the awareness it will possibly bring to the rest of the world, but it’s something we’re painfully aware of every single day at RIFA,” volunteer coordinator Dan Ward said.

According to Ward, a quarter of families in Madison County are food insecure, meaning they don’t know where their next meal may come from.

Volunteers for RIFA said they’re not just taking action for the national holiday but every day. The soup kitchen, which is open every day, even holidays, serves whoever is in need.

“Not just homeless people — they’re the working poor that come here. They have a job,” Ward said. “It’s a minimum-wage job where you can’t live on a minimum wage job anymore.”

RIFA provides from 48,000 to 65,000 meals annually. One community member is thankful to have a place to come whenever he’s hungry.

“It works out real well for me because when I have just a little bit to eat in my house,” Shane Hooper said. “I can come down here and save on my food so I can eat breakfast down here, get a cup of coffee or a donut.”

You can always make a difference to stop hunger by partnering with RIFA. To learn more about their organization, click here.