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As Thought Leaders it is our responsibility to turn ideas into reality. Together we can raise awareness surrounding National Recovery Awareness and Hunger Awareness months, this September.

National Recovery Awareness Month

Every September, SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation sponsors Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use issues and celebrate the people who recover.
Surviving an Alcoholic
Surviving an Alcoholic, June 22, 2015 by Laura Kramer
 jfs seattle
In my work as an addiction counselor, many of the people I counsel are not themselves addicted to substances, but are instead a parent, spouse, or adult child of someone who is. They come to me incredibly torn about what to do, having been encouraged by many well-meaning people to cut off the relationship completely because continued contact will only cause them pain and further enable the addict. Continue reading here.
Hunger Awareness Month

Every September Feeding America, a a nationwide network of food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States sponsors Hunger Awareness Month. Hunger exists in every community of our country. Nearly 50 million people in the United States today are hungry or food insecure. Yet in this country, we will throw away over 133 billion pounds of good food this year, while 1 in 6 people struggle to get enough to eat.
Food Justice interview: Oran Hesterman of Fair Food Network 
Food Justice interview: Oran Hesterman of Fair Food Network, August 27, 2015, by Leah Koenig

This fall, Repair the World is building a movement to Inspire Service, focusing on the critical issue of food justice in conjunction with Hunger Action Month. They are iRepair the Worldnviting people to volunteer & host Shabbat Dinners on Food Justice. Meanwhile, they're spotlighting the work of awesome food justice-minded companies and organizations around the world. Check out Fair Food Network: an organization dedicated to building a more just and sustainable food system. Repair spoke with President and CEO, Oran Hesterman, not making sacrifices or compromises when it comes to helping food be sustainable and just for all. Read more about Repair the World's movement here.
Mitzvah Munchkins

Mitzvah Munchkins is a collaborative program between Jewish Family Services and the Charlotte area Jewish schools, including Charlotte Jewish Preschool, Charlotte Jewish Day School and Jewish Preschool on Sardis. As part of each school's curriculum related to mitzvot and Tikun Olam, students will learn about the importance that feeding the hungry has in the Jejfs charlottewish religion. Each participating school will have a calendar that will be communicated to families at the beginning of the school year. On the day the donations are brought in to school, that class will have the opportunity to visit the JFS Food Pantry to learn more about how their  participation helps our community. This program is a way for JFS to proactively engage with your children and educate them about the hunger needs of our community in an age-appropriate manner. Learn more about Mitzvah Munchkins here.
AJFCA will publish thought pieces from our Network relating to
Recovery
and Hunger throughout the month of September.
Contact Megan to submit material.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  
AJFCA will be collecting pieces to showcase to the network.
Please send articles to Megan.