HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The Huntington Area Food Bank (HAFB) and Feeding America are raising hunger awareness during the holiday season — one e-mail at a time.

The HAFB is participating in the Tell 10 campaign, which is affiliated with the inaugural Hunger-Free Families campaign from Feeding America. The subsidiary Tell 10 campaign urges people to tell 10 people about hunger issues facing 17 million families in the United States.

“It’s incredibly important to participate in campaigns like the Tell 10 and Hunger-Free Families campaigns,” said Leigh Anne Zappin, HAFB executive director. “Without community support, we wouldn’t be able to feed as many people. Word-of-mouth campaigns like this raise awareness for the food bank and for hungry people in the Tri-State, especially during the holiday season.”

The program started Nov. 1. Participants sign up on www.HungerFreeFamilies.org and pledge to tell 10 contacts via e-mail on the website. The e-mail contains a one-minute video and extensive information about family hunger. The campaign lasts until Nov. 30.

In addition to the Hunger-Free Families and Tell 10 campaigns, people within the Tri-State may also participate in holiday food drives. Walmart and Feeding America are hosting a national holiday food drive, and it will be Nov. 15 through Nov. 22. Nonperishable food items will be collected in Pumpkin Gaylord bins and will be set up at the entrances of Tri-State Walmart stores.

The following local entities are also collecting food donations for the HAFB: Fast Lane Gas Station on 18th Street in conjunction with the West Virginia Lottery, Stogie’s Discount Tobacco and Beer, DIRECTV, Marshall University, Geneva Kent Elementary and First United Bank in Westmoreland. Jim’s Steak and Spaghetti House is also collecting monetary donations.

For more information about the Hunger-Free Families and Tell 10 campaigns, visit www.HungerFreeFamilies.org. For more information about the HAFB, call 304-523-6029.

The Huntington Area Food Bank (HAFB) is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1983 and based in Huntington, W.Va. The HAFB is affiliated with Feeding America, the country’s largest hunger-relief organization. The HAFB serves approximately 250 agencies in 17 counties in West Virginia, southeastern Ohio and northeastern Kentucky. The HAFB’s main mission is to curb the hunger problem by distributing nutritious food products through its member agency network. The HAFB currently helps to feed 91,000 people per month in the Tri-State area.