Food giant ConAgra has taken a significant step towards ending childhood hunger across America by partnering with Feeding America (and the Today Show's Al Roker) to stop domestic hunger in its tracks. Currently, 17.2 million American children live in food insecure households— locations where the family is unsure of or unable to provide enough food to meet the needs of everyone. Feeding America is the largest organization fighting domestic hunger (you can see a picture of one of their drives above).
Over the past two decades, ConAgra has worked to stop hunger through its "Nourish Today, Flourish Tomorrow" program. They've decided to work even harder this year. On March 19, a documentary called "Child Hunger Ends Here" aired on TV with interviews with several families fighting food insecurity. Now through August, you can help the fight. Every time you purchase a ConAgra product (there are lots, most of us do at some point) look for a special code and enter it online at the campaign's website. For every code you do, ConAgra will donate a meal to an area food bank.
Now, ConAgra comes as a company with lots of baggage. Many people oppose them and what they stand for. Many of those criticisms are quite valid. However, there is no denying that a campaign like this one can do so much good for those people who really need the help. No one is saying that you should change your purchasing habits. That said, big companies have the ability to do a lot of good and help a lot of people. We should commend them for that.
The Hunger Challenge is an exercise of empathy—to live in someone else's shoes for one week and learn how we can help fight hunger. How you can help: volunteer, learn more about the Hunger Relief Now! Plan, encourage your friends and family and make your voice heard, donate to your local food bank. If you're participating in the Hunger Challenge, consider donating what you save this week on food.
Photo by Smithfield Foods Inc.
