2025 has unfolded as a very destructive year for those on the front lines in the war on hunger in our nation, state and region. Critical weapons to combat food insecurity have been gashed and gutted. Consider:

• In this country, the much debated One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law this summer by President Donald Trump will slash a colossal $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the No. 1 food relief program in the nation, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

• In this state, the final 2026-27 budget signed into law this summer by Gov. Mike DeWine includes provisions reducing aid to food assistance programs, such as those to the network of food banks, by a whopping 25%.

• At the same time, inflationary pressures have aggravated food insecurity as the cost of all food products has increased 24% since 2020.

Left wounded in the trenches, of course, is this state’s network of food banks, such as the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.

That’s why this September’s 18th annual observance of Hunger Action Month takes on added significance this year. Hunger Action Month is a national campaign held every September to raise awareness and inspire action to end hunger in America.

But given the steep reductions in state and federal support for anti-hunger programs, this year’s action must largely target local initiatives to fill in what many fear will be significant gaps in effectively reaching the goal of no American going to bed hungry.

That’s because the crushing blows to food assistance programs are not being softened by any significant decreases in need.

In the Mahoning Valley alone, approximately 90,000 people — or 1 in 6 — struggle daily with hunger and food insecurity — not knowing when and where they’ll find their next meal.

That number, according to the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, includes 1 in 4 children across Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. Those rates are noticeably higher than national averages of 1 in 7 adults and 1 in 5 children routinely experiencing hunger, according to Feeding America, a consortium of food banks across the nation.

The local food bank distributed over 10.6 million pounds of food, including more than 2.5 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables last year. Second Harvest’s 160 partner agencies and programs provided food to over 20,000 people each week and 8.33 million meals to those in need.

Hunger Action Month therefore provides a fine time for all of us to recommit to making a concrete impact toward lessening the scope of hunger in our own backyards.

There are many ways to do so. Caring residents can organize a food drive, make a monetary donation to the SHFBMV (go to mahoningvalleysecondharvest.org to do so) or volunteer their time and effort at the organization’s sprawling warehouse and distribution site on Salt Springs Road in Youngstown or at any of the many food pantries in schools, churches and other local sites.

For those who prefer an advocacy role, Feeding America is urging its supporters to wear orange on Tuesday, national Hunger Action Day. It also seeks pledges to speak out against hunger and contact lawmakers to make ending hunger a priority. Sign the pledge at feedingamerica.org/advocate.

But whether it’s advocating, volunteering or donating, the ways in which members of our community can participate this month — and every month — are myriad. The life-changing good works of Feeding America and Second Harvest make a compelling case for Valley residents from all walks of life to commit to at least one concrete action this September to ease the pangs and plight of hunger among us.