Hunger Action Heroes Unite! Comic Book and Curriculum

Hunger Action Heroes Unite! is a comic book that educates young readers about the impacts of hunger and food waste, eliminates the stigma around food assistance, and inspires them to be a part of the solution.

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Ways to be a Hunger Action Hero

More than 50 million people in the U.S. turned to hunger relief organizations for food assistance in 2023, while 31% of food produced went unsold or uneaten across the country—almost 120 billion meals worth of food. It doesn’t have to be this way. You can help!

ABOUT THE COMIC BOOK

Hunger Action Heroes Unite!

“Hunger Action Heroes Unite!” is an inspirational story written by Dr. Janina Scarlet, clinical psychologist and creator of “Superhero Therapy,” with art by Thom Zahler (“Love & Capes” & “My Little Pony”).

The book tells the story of Journalist Julie Wilson who feels distressed and powerless as she continues to report on the expanding food insecurity and environmental crises in the United States. When Julie’s cat shows her a portal to another universe, she meets a team of superheroes dedicated to solving pressing global issues. She agrees to join them to help end hunger. Along with her new partner, Hunger Halter, Julie (now Demeter) travels all over the United States helping people rescue surplus food and redistribute it to people facing hunger.

This inspiring comic book teaches readers how they too can become hunger action heroes.

Man and woman smiling while holding the Hunger Action Heroes Unite Comic Book

Hunger Action Heroes Unite! illustrator, Thom Zahler (left) and author, Dr. Janina Scarlet (right)

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An Interactive Curriculum for Teachers & Parents

Teachers and parents can use the Hunger Action Heroes Unite! curriculum guide to spark curiosity and build real-world skills. This flexible guide features four Big Idea Activities, each designed as a stand-alone lesson aligned with nationally recognized standards. Together, they lay the foundation for a hands-on, project-based learning experience: Become a Hunger Action Hero.

Perfect for upper elementary and early middle school students, these activities can be easily adapted to suit a variety of grade levels and learning environments. Whether in the classroom or at home, this curriculum empowers kids to understand hunger and food waste, take action, and become everyday heroes in their communities.

Hunger has both short-term and long-term effects on the human body. Understanding how insufficient food can affect the human body will help students recognize the importance of seeking solutions to hunger in the community.

Every year surplus food makes its way to landfills as food waste leading to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding the impact of an inefficient and wasteful food system on the atmosphere is crucial for combating negative environmental impacts.

Making change in any community requires feeling empowered to take action. Understanding what empowerment is & how it can fuel change is essential in taking action around hunger and food rescue.

Hunger affects people across the community and can sometimes be hard to recognize. Understanding how to help people with empathy is important to help de-stigmatize hunger assistance.

Become a Hunger Action Hero: Students will learn through a real-world and personally-meaningful project that focuses on taking action in the community around hunger assistance and food rescue.

The Curriculum Guide Overview, Activity #1, and the Standards Matrix are available to view. All lessons and the Become a Hunger Action Hero project-based learning experience, are all available for purchase.

Testimonials

It’s so important for kids to learn about food insecurity, food rescue, and ways they can help. They’re the ones that can make a big difference. They need to grow up understanding this so they feel empowered to make a difference in the world.

Mrs. Amber Schulman, 4th grade teacher, Creekside Elementary School

I really love this creative way to share with my kids the importance of giving back, ways to help prevent food waste and that it’s ok to need food assistance. This generation of kids will be the change that our planet needs with a little encouragement and knowledge!

Karrie Pittman, @livinwithlittles

Teach teens about the real concern of hunger in the United States — but do it with a fun and fascinating comic book that will get them excited about giving back to their community.

Amelia Edelman, US News & World Report

You Can Be a Hunger Action Hero Too!

Millions of people across the country face hunger while 31% of all food produced is wasted each year. YOU can make a difference! There are many ways to take action:

Volunteer at your local hunger relief organization, to help get food out into the community.
Ask your local grocery store, farmers markets, or restaurants if they donate their surplus food to a local food rescue organization, and if they don’t, recommend they start.
Start a fundraiser for your local hunger relief and food rescue organization.
Host a food drive.
Create a video that can be shared with friends, family, and fellow students that talks about the issue of hunger and food waste in your community and what others can do to help get involved.
Join or start a Hunger Action Heroes club at your school to help educate other students about hunger, food waste, and how they can help.
Compost at home and at school.
Cook using leftovers or surplus food so good food doesn’t go to waste at homeFor example, make banana bread with overripe, brown bananas.
Put leftover food in the freezer if you’re not going to eat it right away.

Questions and Sponsorship Opportunities

Reach out to Dana Williams at dwilliams@feedingsandiego.org

Special thanks to Aqualia Foundation for making Hunger Action Heroes Unite! and its accompanying curriculum possible.

Hunger Halter’s Character & Origin Story: Aiden Prior
Demeter’s Character & Origin Story: Sirenna Ascencio
Created By: Allison Glader & Dana Williams
Published By: Feeding San Diego

Hunger Action Heroes in the Community

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