September is Hunger Action Month and an opportunity to highlight the important work of our partners at SeaShare. Our partnership began in earnest during the uncertain days of 2020 when many American families were struggling with job loss and food insecurity. With our production plant running as an essential service provider, we knew we could help ease a bit of the economic strain for families coping with food insecurity.
The partnership continues today as many families continue to struggle to make ends meet. Those struggling with food insecurity face the burden of not only getting enough to eat but also accessing nutrient-rich foods that promote good health and help reduce the risk of chronic disease. According to Feeding America’s Hunger in America Study, 79% of households dealing with food insecurity purchase inexpensive, unhealthy food as a coping strategy.
Excerpt from SeaShare’s 2023 Annual Report:
How SeaShare Fights Hunger
SeaShare is a non-profit founded in 1994 to help the seafood industry donate to hunger relief efforts in the United States. SeaShare’s story began with a small group of commercial fishermen in Alaska. They took the unintentionally caught fish (known as bycatch) that were required by law to be thrown back into the sea, and gave those fish – vital, healthy protein – to food banks.
Over the past 29 years, SeaShare has grown its donations far beyond the original bycatch program. It’s distributed over 265 million seafood servings to people facing food insecurity. Now 90% of the seafood distributed by SeaShare is a first-run, marketable product, donated by generous fishermen and processors around the country.
SeaShare’s mission to improve nutrition for people served by food banks is essential. Eating seafood twice a week is one of the best ways to get the recommended amount of nutrients for your body, but at food banks, less than 2% of the food donated is animal-based protein. Seafood only makes up a fraction of this small percentage. Thanks to SeaShare, food banks and feeding centers in 19 states are receiving that valuable, nutritious seafood that is often considered too expensive to supply.
Support SeaShare Today
Channel Fish Processing’s support for SeaShare continues today. In 2023, we processed and shipped four truckloads of pollock fillets to food banks. Our high-quality products are rich in vitamins, minerals, and Omega-3 fatty acids that are good for your heart, brain, and other parts of your body.
During Hunger Action Month and throughout the rest of the year, we’ve been doing our part to help fight hunger with SeaShare. However, every little bit helps, including your donations. If you’re looking to lend a hand, you too can provide nutrient-dense seafood to families in need. Join us by making a donation to SeaShare and help feed people nationwide.
