Hunger Free America has launched new campaigns to make it easier for hungry Americans to obtain food and for anyone to volunteer in the most effective ways to end hunger.

Nearly one in seven (13.7 percent) of Washington State residents, and one in four (21 percent) of children live in households that can’t always afford enough food, according to a media release. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds a toll-free hotline to make it easier for them to access food from both private and governmental resources.

The hotline can be reached at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (486479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (for Spanish) from Monday through Friday (5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST). Hunger Free America, formerly known as the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, has just launched a coast-to-coast outreach campaign to increase the use of the hotline.

Hunger Free America is operating the hotline nationwide as part of a USDA National Hunger Clearinghouse contract.

The National Hunger Hotline staff connects callers with emergency food providers in their community, government assistance, nutritional assistance programs, and various services that promote self-sufficiency. During summer months, the hotline provides information about meal sites where children 18 years old and under can get free, nutritious meals through the USDA Summer Food Service Program.

Free summer meals are offered in all 50 states at participating schools, libraries, pools, and other local sites, funded by the federal government. In 2015, a total of 164 million meals and snacks were served to typically low-income children.