Gov. Robert Bentley recently signed a proclamation officially designating Sunday as ‘Christmas Sunday, the Day Alabama Feeds Every Child.”

The signed document states, “We are making progress in ending child hunger in Alabama. In this holiday season and time of giving, all of us in Alabama are encouraged to cheerfully share our abundance. Together, we will make certain our food banks and charities throughout the state have plenty to assist those most in need.”

Alabama is served by eight, geographically strategic, food banks established to distribute food to the hungry throughout each of the state’s sixty-seven counties. Every county in Alabama has many children who are food insecure at some point each month. Statistics for child hunger per Alabama county, based on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and free/reduced fee, school lunch data is available at www.feedingamerica.org .

Christmas Sunday is an Alabama child hunger awareness and fund-raising effort created by ALAbundant, a Cullman-based, statewide non-profit. Here are specific actions ALAbundant encourages people in every municipality and county in Alabama to consider for reducing child hunger:

 *Tell your personal story of child hunger to eliminate the stigma and give hope

* Ask your church to give a “love offering.” 

* Create a “weekend food backpack” program for children receiving free/reduced fee school lunch; contact ALAbundant for details including registering with a food bank for bulk purchasing

* Put your compassion into action by volunteering at a food bank

* Teach or sponsor cooking classes and purchase cooking videos for your public library

* Plant an “Alabama vs. Child Hunger Victory Garden”

* Add your analytical thinking to research the child hunger problem in your county and your creative thinking to brainstorm solutions

* Be a $5 or $500 child hunger philanthropist today at www.ALAbundant.org .

100 percent of a donation to ALAbundant buys food for hungry, Alabama children.

The ALAbundant mission is based on one idea: Alabama has an abundance of compassion, intellect and natural resources to end child hunger in our state.