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Volunteering
Volunteering
  1. United States Peace Corps
  2. United States Peace Corps
  3. Food Banks
  4. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
  5. Recycling
  6. Parent Teacher Associations
  7. Non-Profit Organizations
  8. Neighborhood Watch
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men in baseball caps and piles of food cartons
Americorps volunteers inspect6 food at the Road Runner Food Bank in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before distributing it to needy residents.
Photo courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture. Photo by Ken Hammond
Food Banks
Food banks provide the nation’s needy with the nourishment they need to survive. They collect food from generous businesses, organizations, and individuals who are willing to donate food. About 10% of America’s population is “food insecure,” or at risk of going hungry. About 11% of California’s population is food insecure and 12% of Louisiana’s population is food insecure. Of those who receive assistance, approximately 13 million are children and 20 percent are seniors. Once national and state organizations collect food, the food is distributed to local homeless shelters and food pantries. Local organizations maintain food pantries for those in need. Usually, individuals or families can go to a food pantry to choose food of their choice. Cities, states, schools, and other organizations hold food drives to collect food and money that is used to sustain food banks and pantries. However, in some states, food banks lack the necessary food to feed the community. To encourage donations, the U.S. government provides tax credits to those who donate food, money, and goods to relief agencies.
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