Benevolist and Tackle Hunger Launch Virtual Food Drive to Address Summer Hunger
The 'Full Bellies, Bright Summers' initiative aims to combat summer hunger by enabling communities to support local food pantries through virtual food drives.
Benevolist.org and Tackle Hunger have partnered to launch the 'Full Bellies, Bright Summers' virtual food drive, a national effort to address the increased risk of hunger among children during the summer months. The campaign, running from July 7th to August 31st, provides an easy-to-use platform for food pantries, businesses, and community groups to create virtual food drives, helping to restock pantry shelves with essential items.
Alison Reese, Executive Director of Tackle Hunger, highlighted the significance of the initiative, noting the additional financial strain families face when school meals are unavailable. 'Summer hunger is real. Families spend $300 more each month when school's out, straining food charities,' Reese said. The virtual fundraiser is designed to mitigate this challenge by facilitating community support for hunger relief efforts.
Cari Newton, CEO at Benevolist, emphasized the community-centric approach of the campaign. 'This is about neighbors helping neighbors,' Newton stated. The platform simplifies the process of setting up and sharing a virtual food drive, enabling participants to quickly mobilize their networks in support of local food pantries.
For those interested in contributing, more information can be found at www.benevolist.org. The initiative represents a critical step towards ensuring that children and families have access to nutritious food during the summer, a time when many lose access to school-based meal programs.