HARRISBURG — September is Hunger Action Month — a nationwide initiative to raise awareness and encourage action to help end hunger.

During the month, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank (CPFB), headquartered in Harrisburg with a location in Williamsport, is partnering with its Hunger Action Month presenting sponsor, PSECU, to ask the public to act on the issue in the region’s local communities. Additionally, through the collaboration, now in its fourth consecutive year, PSECU will contribute up to $15,000 to the cause and encourage its members living in CPFB’s 27-county region to donate.

Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s region includes Potter County.

To help meet Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s goal of keeping Pennsylvanians fed, the organization is inviting residents this month to advocate, volunteer and donate.

Advocacy with elected officials at all levels of state and federal government is key to ending hunger in Central Pennsylvania. By raising voices and letting elected officials know that there is public support for hunger-relief programs, advocates can drive policy improvements that will help end hunger.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank could not do the work it does without volunteers giving back their time. People can also support the conversation about hunger on social media platforms. Throughout the month of September, share the Food Bank’s social media posts by visiting facebook.com/CentralPAFoodBank.

Every dollar donated helps the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to provide six nutritious meals to neighbors in need. In celebration of Hunger Action Month, PSECU is hosting a virtual food drive and is matching every donation — dollar for dollar — up to $10,000 throughout the month of September. Learn more or make a donation at centralpafoodbank.org/psecu.

In addition to virtual food drive donation-matching in September, PSECU will provide the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank with a $5,000 sponsorship, bringing its combined contribution to a potential $15,000. As each dollar donated to the Food Bank equates to six meals, PSECU’s donation could provide up to 90,000 meals for those in need.

In conjunction with Hunger Action Month, the Food Bank will also host a Virtual Town Hall meeting on Sept. 10 to share details of how it continues to feed those in need and meet a demand that has increased more than 40% since March. Members of the community are invited to register to attend the free event at centralpafoodbank.org/ham.

For more information on the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, visit centralpafoodbank.org or call 717-564-1700 or 570-321-8023.