TEK Foundation’s Post

One Meal, One Moment of Hope Hunger doesn’t always scream; sometimes, it sits quietly, waiting. During the outreach for the Aid-a-Meal Initiative, we met a vulcanizer sitting by the roadside. He hadn’t eaten all day, and no one had come by for his services. His tools were there, ready for work, but his energy was fading. In that moment, we offered him a token—a simple gesture that opened the door to something life-changing. He took it to the restaurant we had partnered with and received a hot, nourishing plate of food. For him, it wasn’t just a meal. It was strength to keep going, hope for the day, and a reminder that someone cared. This is what we do. With Aid-a-meal initiative, we’re committed to ensuring that hunger doesn’t stop anyone from living, working, or thriving. Through partnerships with local restaurants, we’re reaching those who need it most—wherever they are, without judgment. One meal may seem small, but for someone like the vulcanizer, it’s everything. Together, we can do more. 👉 Partner with us to make a difference. 👉 Support our mission to fight hunger. 👉 Share your own story or ideas about tackling food insecurity. Every act of kindness counts. Let’s bring hope to more people, one plate at a time.

I live in Arlington, Virginia. It’s a place that's rich in diversity, food, and greenery. It’s also affected by food insecurity, with more than 23,000 people (nearly 10% of the population) not having access to enough food for an active, healthy life. These are just some of the eye-opening facts released this week as part of Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap Study (https://lnkd.in/ep7JimvB) —an annual, comprehensive view of how food insecurity varies across the U.S. As the only national study to provide county-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs, this study is a powerful tool for all of us to use to better understand hunger in our communities. It shows that food insecurity exists in every county, parish and congressional district in this nation, but it isn’t experienced equally. Food insecurity levels vary across regions, influenced by factors like unemployment and poverty rates as well as policies and practices rooted in history that continue to hold people back today. I encourage you to learn about the impact of hunger in your community. Spark conversations around the systemic factors that drive food insecurity then join the movement to end hunger (https://lnkd.in/enR6y7VC). Help us create a future where we all have access to the food and resources we need to thrive. #EndHunger

IOWA STOPS HUNGER Donor opens $250K dollar-for-dollar match to help DMARC fight food insecurity during holiday season By Business Record Staff After setting a record in October for the highest monthly total of people helped in its food pantry network, the Des Moines Area Religious Council has launched a matching campaign — with the help of an anonymous donor — to meet the "unmatched" level of need it is experiencing. The DMARC food pantry network helped 28,663 individuals in October — the highest number in its nearly 50-year history — adding to the continued strain the community feels because of food insecurity. Now an anonymous donor has committed to match every dollar given up to $250,000, from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, to meet the high demand of the holiday season. According to a news release, the funding will help DMARC provide food assistance to more than 1,500 people a day. Matt Unger, DMARC’s CEO, said the generosity of the donor to offer a dollar-for-dollar match to help fight food insecurity in the metro is a rare opportunity. "Working together we can meet this need," Unger said in the release. "This is a true dollar-for-dollar match. If together we raise $100,000, DMARC will receive a matching gift of exactly $100,000. For our 70,000 neighbors a year and counting who rely on a food pantry every little bit counts. The need we are seeing is unmatched." Iowa Stops Hunger is a Business Publications Corp. initiative to bring awareness and action to food insecurity in Iowa. Read additional stories on Iowastopshunger.com.

A Year of Impact: How We Turned Food into Hope As the year comes to a close, we’re filled with gratitude and pride. Together, we’ve turned what could have been waste into nourishment, and numbers into lives changed. Here’s what 365 days of action look like: - 67,517 kg of food rescued 🌾 That’s 10,000 kg saved from landfills and repurposed to feed those in need. - 2,70,000 meals served 🍽️ Each meal is a promise that hunger won’t win today. - ₹1,35,38,374 worth of food distributed 💰 Proof that kindness has real, tangible value. Thousand of lives impacted 💞 - Behind every number is a smile, a story, and a little more hope. - 2,000+ volunteer hours contributed 🤝 Thousands of hours, each filled with heart and determination. But numbers only tell part of the story. The real impact is seen in the hands that serve, the people who receive, and the communities we’re building together. This year was about more than food—it was about connection, dignity, and change. As we look ahead to 2025, we know the fight against hunger continues. We’re ready to do more, serve more, and make a bigger difference—but we can’t do it without you. Let’s make next year even more powerful.

A Year of Impact: How We Turned Food into Hope As the year comes to a close, we’re filled with gratitude and pride. Together, we’ve turned what could have been waste into nourishment, and numbers into lives changed. Here’s what 365 days of action look like: - 67,517 kg of food rescued 🌾 That’s 10,000 kg saved from landfills and repurposed to feed those in need. - 2,70,000 meals served 🍽️ Each meal is a promise that hunger won’t win today. - ₹1,35,38,374 worth of food distributed 💰 Proof that kindness has real, tangible value. Thousand of lives impacted 💞 - Behind every number is a smile, a story, and a little more hope. - 2,000+ volunteer hours contributed 🤝 Thousands of hours, each filled with heart and determination. But numbers only tell part of the story. The real impact is seen in the hands that serve, the people who receive, and the communities we’re building together. This year was about more than food—it was about connection, dignity, and change. As we look ahead to 2025, we know the fight against hunger continues. We’re ready to do more, serve more, and make a bigger difference—but we can’t do it without you. Let’s make next year even more powerful.

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is committed to supporting students facing food insecurity. If you or someone you know needs food resources, here are tools and programs available to help: Food Resources 1. Feeding America -This online search tool helps you locate food resources around the state and country. Find food shelves, locations that serve meals to kids during the summer, and resources for seniors. Visit: www.feedingamerica.org 2. Hunger Solutions Minnesota - Hunger Solutions locates food resources throughout Minnesota. Find food shelves, discounted groceries, free meals, and more. Visit: www.hungersolutions.org 3. The Nutritious U Food Pantry - Located on-campus, the Nutritious U Food Pantry provides free food to all University of Minnesota students. It’s confidential and designed to ensure students have access to nutritious food when they need it most. 4. SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) - SNAP is a government program that assists individuals and families in purchasing groceries. To see if you qualify: • Call 651-209-7963• Email: SNAPrefer@2harvest.org No one should go hungry – take advantage of these resources. Your well-being matters. Reach out and take the next step towards food security. #UMNResources #FoodSupport #EndHunger #YouAreNotAlone

You and your family are most likely preparing for Thanksgiving today, but for almost 1/5 of America, Thanksgiving is a painful reminder of inequity and food insecurity. Use this holiday to reflect on what makes you grateful, and remember that what may seem standard to you is inaccessible to some families. Click the link in our bio to learn more about and get involved in our mission to end food insecurity. #ChildrensHealthWatch #Thanksgiving #FoodInsecurity

Today we are highlighting the release of the latest paper in our More for Children Issues Paper series-Food Insecurity. Throughout The More for Children research we both heard and saw the reality of food insecurities facing children and their families. Children often arrived to the research workshops hungry. We heard from the children we spoke with about how they and their families struggled to afford the food shop, about their worry of the rising cost of groceries and the strategies they adapt to deal with this. We heard about their knowledge of parents skipping meals so that they wouldn’t have to go without. In this wealthy country, children should not have to go without access to high quality, nutritious food. Schools are doing a lot to provide children with meals everyday but what happens when children go home in the evenings, and when they are on school holidays, or when they go to highschool-all of which were worries voiced by children. Food charities also play an essential role in tackling food insecurity, but they too are patching underlying inequalities and injustice. Food insecurity is too common a reality for children in Australia. It is an issue that impacts on every aspect of a child’s life. More can and should be done to ensure that no child in Australia lives the with the daily reality of food insecurity. Sharon Bessell Cadhla O’Sullivan Crawford School of Public Policy ANU College of Asia & the Pacific The Australian National University Paul Ramsay Foundation OzHarvest ARACY Life Course Centre Australian Institute of Family Studies Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership https://lnkd.in/gCnkMhFg

#FoodFactFriday: Did you know that over 106,000 of our South Dakota neighbors, including 1 in 6 children, are facing food insecurity? 😞 These aren't just numbers—they're members of our community. As we mark Hunger Action Month, it's time for all of us to TAKE ACTION. Together, we can end hunger in South Dakota. 💪🧡 Learn more about how you can TAKE ACTION at https://loom.ly/xajvyG8 #HungerActionMonth

Did you know #Texas is the most food-insecure state in the US? In North Texas, 1 in 5 children regularly struggles with #hunger. Food insecurity impacts every area of a person's life and can stunt children's development. That's why United Way leads a coalition of corporate partners, individual donors, school districts and others to end childhood hunger in our community. Learn more in the blog below. https://lnkd.in/gjrSi8id