by Leah Justice

The Polk County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution on Monday, Sept. 8 in support of Hunger Action Month and was challenged by Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry to join a challenge to eat on $4.50 per day for one week.

Outreach board member Joe Epley presented the resolution and asked commissioners to accept the challenge, saying $4.50 per day, or $31 per week is what the average food stamp recipient receives.

Feeding America, the country’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger established September as Hunger Action Month.

The county’s resolution says 58 percent of Polk County’s school children are eligible to receive lunches for free or at a reduced price and 27 percent of children in Polk County have been deemed to be food insecure by the latest research from Feeding America.

Outreach Ministry, located in Columbus, is the county’s largest food pantry.

“Thermal Belt Outreach’s mission is to provide compassionate assistance to Polk County residents who are unable to provide for their basic life needs,” states the resolution.

Commissioners declared the month of September as Hunger Action Month in Polk County and urges all residents to participate in ending hunger in Polk County.