October 16 is World Food Day, a celebration of the founding of the lead international agency for global efforts to combat hunger, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

More than a billion people worldwide continue to suffer from chronic hunger and malnutrition. World Food Day has been observed every year since 1979, in more than 150 countries, to help raise awareness of global poverty and hunger. It serves as an example of international cooperation and community-building to help the poor.

World Food Day is an opportunity to share your concern for the world's poor and hungry with your family, friends and community. As Oxfam America suggests, you can host a simple World Food Day dinner on October 16th that "fosters a conversation about where your food comes from, who cultivates it, and how you can take personal actions that will make the food system more just and sustainable."

You can get discussion guides and free materials from Oxfam at:

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/campaigns/food-justice/world-food-day

You can organize a "food and fund drive" for local food banks and pantries. In the United States, if you don't know where your nearest food bank is located, you can find one in the nationwide list at:

http://www.feedingamerica.org/Home/foodbank-results.aspx

Food banks help feed tens of millions of people in the United States. They need your support and food donations.

Taking action can be as simple as picking up the phone. Call your local political leaders and representatives and ask them what specific, concrete steps are they taking to end hunger?

Each one of us can find our own best way to help on World Food Day. 

Sources: World Food Day home page, Charles W. Elliott blog post, Buddhist Global Relief.