"Give a Meal" campaign raises 1M meals in a week

November 21, 2011

In less than a week, Feeding America's"Give a Meal" campaign has already raised more than 1 million meals for hungry families in this country. The campaign will run throughout the holiday season.

The holiday campaign, the first of its kind for the nation's largest anti-hunger organization, is a joint effort with corporate partners, celebrities and the public to provide food to the nearly 49 million Americans who struggle with hunger. As of Monday morning, nearly 1,150,000 meals had been raised through the"Give a Meal" program.

"This tremendous support is just indicative of the fact that the issue of hunger is one that resonates with so many people, especially during the holidays," said Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of Feeding America."There is no better time than now to give a gift that will help make sure that everyone has something to eat this holiday season."

Every $1 donated to the"Give a Meal" campaign helps provide eight meals to people in need. However, the effort got a big boost from signature partner Bank of America who pledged an additional $2 match (up to $500,000) for every $1 donated via https://secure.feedingamerica.org/site/SPageNavigator/boa_give_a_meal.html or http://bankofamerica.com/give.

"Give a Meal" is also being backed by Feeding America Entertainment Council members, including Chef Mario Batali, host of ABC's The Chew, Australian chef and television star Curtis Stone, rock sensations Benji and Joel Madden, Entertainment Tonight correspondent Samantha Harris, Grammy Award winning singer Monica, Food Network star Ellie Krieger, chef and TV host Sara Gore, TV food critic and host Katie Lee, Extra Virgin husband and wife hosts actress Debi Mazar and chef Gabriele Corcos, and the platinum selling band OneRepublic.

Emmy award winning host Rachael Ray is also supporting the campaign and her Yum-o! Organization will make a donation to Feeding America's Produce Program, up to 2 million servings of produce. (Yum-o! has donated the monetary equivalent of up to 2 million servings of produce to Feeding America.)


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About Feeding America

Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.3 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.