The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma distributed more than a million pounds of food to area food pantries in July, the largest one-month amount in its history.
That's 25 semi-trailers full of food, enough for 852,548 meals.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Oklahoma is the eighth-hungriest state, with 4.7 percent of the population considered hungry and an extra 13 percent considered food insecure.
Locally, food pantry agencies are reporting a 40 percent increase in the number of people seeking assistance.
Some agencies are even reporting a 70 percent to 100 percent increase, said Cindy Stevens, the director of marketing and communications with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.
To raise awareness and help combat the issue, September has been declared Hunger Action Month.
"Our goal for Hunger Action Month is to educate our citizens about the problem of hunger right here in our own backyard and show them some of the many ways they can take action against hunger, not just in September, but every month," said Sara Waggoner, the executive director of the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.
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