Nationally, thousands of volunteers conduct regular food routes as they visit 10 or more of their neighbors 4-6 times per year to collect non-perishable food items. That food is distributed to needy kids and their families in the same community that the food was collected through a local food distribution agency.

Neighborhood Connections represents the very heart of Canning Hunger: connecting the resources within a community with the needs of that community by activating caring individuals into the fight against hunger. Neighborhood Connections builds community and effectively seeks to end hunger “one neighbor at a time”. Once anonymous neighbors become real friends with a common value: to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors in need.

We have found that almost everyone wants to help but few take the time to do it. Canning Hunger has developed this strategy to make it convenient enough for anyone to help. If someone is asked to take two cans of corn to the corner of 5th and Main St. next Saturday and place them in the green barrel between 10 AM and 11 AM, they may but probably won’t. However, if their neighbor knocks on their door and offers to wait while they select a few cans from their cupboard and then gets the food to the distribution agency, they almost always will do that…and happily. It really is simple and a WIN-WIN for everyone.