National Nutrition Month is HERE!
National Nutrition Month (NMM) is a perfect reminder that hunger relief isn’t just about calories — it’s about access to nutritious food that supports health, learning, and stability. March is a natural moment for food banks and pantries to rally community partners around health-forward giving — and to invite local groups to sponsor #GiveHealthy (GH) drives that raise nutritious food.
We’ve created a dedicated National Nutrition Month Toolkit to make it easy for you and your sponsors to activate quickly.
Stamp Out Hunger is coming May 9, 2026 — make it a nutrition-forward moment
The Stamp Out Hunger (SOH) Food Drive takes place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, and it remains one of the biggest community food-drive days of the year. It’s a powerful way to mobilize neighborhoods — and it’s also a prime opportunity to encourage donors and local groups to focus on nutritious food.
The key message for your community: support SOH and sponsor a GiveHealthy drive
SOH is familiar and easy for many households: set food out by the mailbox and letter carriers collect it. But not everyone can participate that way — some people are traveling, live in multi-unit buildings, don’t have regular mail pickup, or simply can’t get food out on the right day.
That’s why GH drives are a perfect complement to SOH:
- They give people who can’t leave food out by the mailbox a simple way to participate.
- They help your organization raise nutritious food, not just “whatever is in the pantry.”
- They give companies, schools, civic groups, teams, and congregations a clear way to support you with a focused, measurable campaign.
Why this matters for food banks and pantries
SOH can generate a lot of volume — but volume doesn’t always equal the right mix of food. Encouraging groups to run a SOH-themed #GiveHealthy drive helps you:
- Steer support toward nutritious, in-demand food
- Reduce the burden of sorting and handling mismatched donations
- Extend SOH beyond a single day by creating a campaign your community can share and build around
Make March your setup month
National Nutrition Month is the ideal time to line up your community partners and say:
“If you want to help, sponsor a #GiveHealthy drive to raise nutritious food for SOH.”
Even a handful of group-sponsored GH drives can significantly increase the amount of healthy food delivered to your network during the SOH season.
Want to register with SOH and set up your own SOH GiveHealthy drive?
To learn how to register with the Stamp Out Hunger campaign and set up your own SOH #GiveHealthy drive, contact theteam@givehealthy.org.
Current News
Keeping Community Orgs Competitive in ‘Food is Medicine’
As the “Food is Medicine” field grows, community-based organizations such as food banks and pantries are working to ensure they remain competitive partners alongside hospitals, insurers, and for-profit vendors entering the space. A new community action plan aims to help nonprofits better demonstrate their value, measure outcomes, and design programs that align with healthcare systems’ expectations and reimbursement models. Advocates stress that community organizations bring deep local trust, cultural knowledge, and experience serving food-insecure households—strengths that must be preserved as the sector professionalizes. Ensuring these groups remain central to Food is Medicine initiatives will be key to maintaining equitable access and preventing healthcare-driven solutions from sidelining grassroots hunger-relief providers.
(Food Bank News, 5 minute read)
Food Bank’s 3-Way Partnership Expands Food-Sourcing Options
A new three-way partnership led by the Tarrant Area Food Bank is helping expand food sourcing options by allowing food banks to place customized orders for products—especially fresh produce—through a centralized procurement system. The collaboration connects food banks with sourcing and logistics partners, making it easier to access consistent supplies and reduce reliance on unpredictable donations. Leaders say the model could help food banks better respond to rising demand while improving efficiency and food quality across their networks. If successful, the approach may offer a scalable blueprint for strengthening regional food supply chains nationwide.
(Food Bank News, 6 minute read)
In February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to purchase up to $263 million in domestically produced foods—including dairy, beans, fruit, and nuts—for distribution through food banks and federal nutrition programs. The investment is intended to both strengthen the nation’s food safety net and provide economic support to American farmers by creating stable demand for their products. Many of the foods will be distributed through programs such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program, helping ensure more nutritious options reach communities facing food insecurity. Officials say the initiative reflects a dual strategy of supporting agricultural producers while expanding access to food assistance nationwide.
(USDA Press Release, 3 minute read)
Thanks for reading! – #GIVEHEALTHY Team
