This is a sponsored post being brought to you by Unilever on behalf of Feeding America.
Food.
It is a basic human need.
Right up there with shelter. And water. And love.
Okay, love is sort of negotiable, but not if you want to be a decent freaking human. You need it. Just like you need food to remain alive.
And yet, one in six members of the nation I call home are without food consistently.
It’s sad.
Because there are so many people who have so much, and then sooooo many more who have too little.
They are living in every community. Maybe it doesn’t look like they are in yours, they probably are. Or at least nearby. Close enough that you see them when you go to the Whole Foods or the gym or church or anywhere you go outside of your mini home shell. They may not be shopping or working out or praying right there with you, but they are still there silently surviving, but only just barely.
It’s easy to forget if it’s not your personal struggle, but sometimes you do something and you have to remember.
I spent an afternoon this week handing out ice cream to people in a Baltimore community to thank them for donating essential food goods to the Maryland Food Bank.
*my ice cream brings all the boys and girls and old people and random business men to the yard*
I was happy to be there, to support such a necessary cause and to give my time and my money (in the form of food) to help. Because I got to remember.
Only it’s not me I want you to know about. I have, so giving is something I am obliged to do. The way I look at it, it’s my karmic responsibility to help others who are less fortunate, lest I be made to join them one day.
But there were so many other givers at that collection site that day. Givers who weren’t really havers sharing what little they did have along with their own stories of times when they struggled too. Moms with a whole boat load of babies to feed who gave happily while their kids clamored to get a Popsicle from me. A grandma, with a walker, who had her grandson carry her groceries and her donations to add to the truck. A group of shirtless teens who probably just wanted an ice cream but who donated anyway. And a bunch of people who just gave whatever change was in their pockets so that we could go into the store and buy the needed items. They all did their part to help their community and proudly went home with this sticker on their chests…
It was awesome to see this community come together in this way and I hope that you will consider coming together in your own.
The Green Light Movement is a partnership between Unilever and a number of grocery retailers to help people make a difference in their communities. They are feeding America by hosting food drives in communities on the east coast, to inspire people to provide assistance to those in need and to do something about the hunger problem in America.
I love that retailers are partnering with real people to make real changes in the real communities they are a part of. And, they’re making it easy too (you don’t have to stand on the corner and slang ice cream like I did), so that you can be a part of feeding America just by shopping:
- Buy $15 worth of participating items (check your Giant Foods Circular), Save $3, Give 15 meals – 8/28-9/4.
- Buy $5 worth of participating KNORR products, Save $1.50 on meat, Give 5 meals – 9/18-9/24
I know it’s not the only answer, but it is AN answer, and it’s one we can all easily get involved in. Especially now that you’ve been reminded.
Check out the info sheet below, find an event in your community, and donate.
Disclosure: Today’s post is sponsored by Unilever, makers of the brands that partner with retailers to help the Green Light Project steam along. All heavy handed reminders, frozen from handling ice cream hands, and opinions are my own!