Take Action. Make a Difference.
Every day, individuals and families in our community are forced to make impossible choices – between food and rent, gas or electricity. But food should never be an impossible choice.
This September, join Community Resource Center in partnership with the Feeding America network for Hunger Action Month. It’s a time to raise awareness, take action, and fight hunger in our community. Together, we can strive for a hunger-free and healthy San Diego.
During September, you can take action by helping raise awareness of food insecurity and support our Food & Nutrition Center – a pantry of choice that provides dignity and healthy options for our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
Please read on for five ways you can take action this month!
Your support means someone doesn’t have to choose between healthy food and other basic needs.
Did you know? Nearly 430,000 people in San Diego County are facing food insecurity. The latest Feeding America data shows food insecurity has surpassed pandemic-era levels, including more than 123,000 children.
And the need may grow. More than 30,000 San Diegans are no longer enrolled in CalFresh compared with December 2024, while federal changes to the program are affecting tens of thousands of local families.
Hunger isn’t always visible. A neighbor may be working, raising a family or caring for an aging loved one while quietly struggling to afford groceries alongside rent, medication and other essentials.
If you need food assistance, please visit our Food & Nutrition Center page to learn more.
5 Ways You Can Take Action to Fight Hunger in Our Community
1. Give during our Hunger Action Match Challenge
- Please consider making a financial contribution to double your impact. Give to CRC by September 29, Hunger Action Day, and your gift will be matched dollar for dollar, up to a total of $25,000. Financial gifts also give CRC flexibility to purchase the foods most needed and stretch resources further through bulk purchasing.
- You can also donate non-perishable food and personal care items directly to CRC.
2. Follow our Hunger Action Month Calendar
- Download our calendar for ways you can get involved throughout the month, from sharing our social media posts to collecting our weekly top needs.
- Encourage friends and family to join you in making a meaningful difference.
3. Raise Awareness
- Learn about the realities of food insecurity in San Diego and share this knowledge with friends and family. Many people have misconceptions about who accesses food pantries, but it includes a diverse range of people, including working-class families and seniors. Understanding these realities helps build empathy and drives meaningful action.
- Join us for a CRC tour to see our Food & Nutrition Center and learn more about our impact and programs.
- Wear orange, the color for hunger awareness!
- September 29 (Tuesday): Participate in Hunger Action Day by sharing our social media posts to raise awareness about hunger in San Diego. Show your support by wearing orange and tagging us on social media @SanDiegoCRC or emailing your photos to info@crcncc.org.
September is Hunger Action Month! Join me in support of Community Resource Center (@SanDiegoCRC). Together, we can achieve a hunger-free and healthy San Diego, Learn more: crcncc.org/hunger. #HungerFreeSD #HungerActionMonth #EndHungerNow
Sample Social Media Post
September 29 is #HungerActionDay! Join me in support of Community Resource Center (@SanDiegoCRC). Together, we can achieve a hunger-free and healthy San Diego, Learn more: crcncc.org/hunger. #HungerFreeSD #HungerActionMonth #EndHungerNow
Sample Social Media Post
4. Host a Food Drive
- Organize a food or personal care item drive to keep our food pantry stocked with essential items. You can collaborate with schools, organizations and clubs to host larger food drives. Learn more about hosting a food or personal care items drive or please contact us at info@crcncc.org. We can coordinate pickups for larger collections.
- You can also help by partnering with us for a give-back fundraiser. Please contact us at Development@crcncc.org to learn more.
5. Volunteer
- Get involved by volunteering with CRC! While we have a dedicated team for weekly distributions, there are opportunities for deep cleaning and other special projects. This is a great group activity for 10-20 people. Reach out to us to learn more about available opportunities at volunteer@crcncc.org.
Together, we can turn compassion into action.
Your support = Meals + Hope.
How CRC Helps with Healthy Food
In 2025, Community Resource Center’s Food & Nutrition Center provided food assistance to 6,590 people and distributed more than 778,000 pounds of food to families, seniors and individuals experiencing homelessness. Our Food Rescue Initiative helps turn surplus food into nourishment with the support of local grocery stores and community partners.
“It has been a blessing to come to CRC. I was homeless for many years and called CRC for help. Since then my life has been stable and healing. The CRC Food Pantry helps me have enough food every month. I’ve always been treated with respect and dignity. I am thankful for every person that has contributed for my opportunity to heal and live a brand-new life.”
Maria, CRC participant
“The food and nutrition center is very helpful to be able to put food on our table, especially with the food prices going up so high. What may seem like a small donation makes a huge difference to us being low income.
Sophia, CRC participant
