(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

September is the start of many things: football season, the school year for some, spooky season if you ask the right people … But this is also Hunger Action Month.

Note the difference between this “month” designation and many others. This is not just about awareness; this is about action to “provide nutritious food to neighbors facing hunger,” as Feeding America puts it.

The idea is to come together with food banks and volunteers in communities “to build a nation where everyone has the food and support they need.”

But that doesn’t happen if YOU don’t take action.

How? Donate, fundraise and advocate. That means giving or collecting money and food but also being a voice to influence those who can help change the bigger picture.

According to Feeding America, more than 50 million people turned to food banks for help in the past year. There is food insecurity in every community — yes, even yours.

And children are among the most likely to suffer because of it.

Here, the Southeastern Ohio Foodbank and Mountaineer Food Bank serve as Feeding America umbrella organizations that partner with several local pantries and food banks.

In touting its volunteers and donors, Feeding America says “Every action to end hunger starts with someone who cares.”

Those actions don’t have to be enormous. Maybe the purchase of the shelf-stable makings of an extra four-person meal to go along with your normal weekly grocery shopping trip. Drop it off at your local food bank on the way home, or on your way in to work the next day. Ask your Sunday School class for an extra $5 each to give toward a donation to a pantry. Let the volunteers there buy what they know folks will need with it.

One step at a time, one person at a time, this month is a call to action for us to take care of our neighbors. But the call must not end Sept. 30. The sense of urgency for those facing food insecurity lasts all year long.

Answer it.