SAINT PAUL, Minn., Aug. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- September is Hunger Action Month, a month in which individuals across the country are urged to take action against hunger in their communities. At the request of Second Harvest Heartland, the Upper Midwest's largest hunger relief organization, the City of Minneapolis will take action against hunger by formally declaring September as Hunger Action Month, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation will light the 35W bridge over the Mississippi River orange on September 1, the official color of the hunger movement, in recognition of Hunger Action Month.

According to Rob Zeaske, chief executive officer of Second Harvest Heartland, hunger remains at record levels in Minnesota and the public's help is needed more than ever. "Hunger continues to affect one in 10 Minnesotans, with those who are hungry missing more than 100 million meals over the course of just one year," he said. "To address the growing demand for food here in Minnesota, we urge Minnesotans to take action during the month of September to help those in need in our communities."

While there are many ways to help, Zeaske specifically notes Second Harvest Heartland's first-ever Pack-a-Thon, a 12-hour volunteer event the food bank will host on Saturday, September 15 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Second Harvest Heartland West, located at 6325 Sandburg Road in Golden Valley. During the Pack-a-Thon, presented by The Mosaic Company, individuals and teams will donate two hours of their time preparing and packing food for the hungry. Second Harvest Heartland hopes to enlist more than 600 volunteers for its Pack-a-Thon in an effort to secure a total of 5,000 volunteer hours throughout the month of September as part of its Double Down Challenge. Through its Double Down Challenge, every hour donated to Second Harvest Heartland during the month of September will be matched with a financial contribution from Cargill, Ecolab, General Mills, Kemps, Optum Healthcare Services, and UnitedHealthcare.

For more information on Hunger Action Month, the Pack-a-Thon, the Double Down Challenge, and other ways to take action during Hunger Action Month, visit 2harvest.org/packathon.

About Second Harvest Heartland

Second Harvest Heartland, the Upper Midwest's largest hunger-relief organization, works to reinvent hunger relief through leadership and innovation so as to help those who are hungry today and provide the means for those who are hungry to be fed tomorrow. Pioneering partnerships and programs have paved the way for Second Harvest Heartland to distribute more than 70 million pounds of grocery products last year to hungry seniors, families, and children through nearly 1,000 non-profit member agencies and programs serving 59 counties in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. For more information, visit 2harvest.org or call 651.484.5117.

SOURCE Second Harvest Heartland