I wish I could offer great prizes all the time. An all expense paid trip… cash… a new car… those would all make for amazing giveaways. However this time I would like to offer a prize that everyone can “win”. It might not bring you the same joy that winning an all expense paid trip, but hopefully it will bring you joy and happiness none-the-less.
I want to challenge my readers to do something during the month of April. It doesn’t have to cost a dime (well, for the most part) and the reward (“prize”) is not only for you, but for others as well.
As you might already know I am an ambassador for ConAgra Foods Child Hunger Ends Here campaign. I am honored to be their ambassador because I feel strongly about child hunger, especially in my own “backyard”. It breaks my heart that there are children and families all around me who might not know where there next meal is coming from. Even thought there are homes around me that are worth millions, there are still plenty of low income families who don’t know where their next meal is coming from.
Here is my challenge to my readers. Hopefully the reward will make it worth your time and effort.
When you are food shopping next month, if at all possible, pick up just ONE non-perishable food item. If you can afford more than one – GREAT. But if all you can afford is one that is fine too. If you could pick up just one non-perishable food item with each shopping trip you can help provide food for a hungry child.
Think about it for one moment. If you see a sale of canned meal (for example), that is 10 for $10, couldn’t you pick up even just ONE can to donate to a local food bank? Is that $1 really going to break your budget? Even canned vegetables are often only .50 cents per can. I am sure most people, even with the tightest budget, can afford .50 cents for canned vegetables, or even canned fruit.
Pasta is very affordable and can be used in a variety of recipes.
Sometimes stores have sales, buy one get one free. If you can spare the “free” item, please consider donating it.
If you go food shopping once a week and picked up even ONE non-perishable item to donate each week, that is four items that can be donated to a local food bank. If 100 people did that in just one month that would translate to 400 non-perishable food items donated to a local food bank. All that food can help ensure that children will have food to eat.
You don’t even have to spend a dime. Take a peek inside your pantry and cabinets for food items. If there are things you do not plan on eating in the near future, consider donating them instead (make sure to check the expiration dates).
What exactly do YOU get out of this? What is your “prize” or reward? How about the feeling you get when you know you did something good for someone less fortunate then you? How about knowing that a child will have a meal and not go to bed hungry, thanks to you. Your kindness and generosity will be greatly appreciated by many, and that in turn should make your heart smile. For me personally that is a truly wonderful “prize”.
In April, please consider taking me up on my challenge. If you do I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment and tell me about your efforts and how it makes you feel knowing that you are helping out those less fortunate than you and providing a child with a much needed meal.
There are other ways you can help too. And all you need to do is shop like you normally do for the brands you enjoy.
ConAgra Foods has several brands that are participating in the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign to help support Feeding America. On specially marked packages of the brands (see below) you will find a special 8-digit code. Simply upload that code to the Child Hunger Ends Here website (www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com) and one meal will be donated to Feeding America for a child in need. Upload three codes and three meals are donated. If you enter twenty codes twenty meals will be donated, and so forth.
– Snack Pack
– Banquet
– Peter Pan
– Chef Boyardee
– Orville Redenbacher
– Healthy Choice
– Manwhich
– Hunt’s
– Marie Callendar’s
You can enter codes up to August 31, 2012. This is valid in the US only. A maximum of 3 million meals will be donate.
If you happen to purchase any of the ConAgra Food brands mentioned above to donate PLEASE be sure to enter in the 8 digit codes before donating to your loca food bank so that an additional meal can be donated to Feed America.
Along with the good feeling you’ll get knowing you are helping children in your community, ConAgra Foods would also love to reward you with a free song download. When you enter in a participating code you’ll have the opportunity to download the song “Here’s Hope“. Even better you’ll have the opportunity to select the artist or version you want. There are three versions of the song sung by Jewel, Owl City and Jay Sean. Select which artist’s version you want, or enter in enough codes to download all three versions.
For additional information please visit www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com. You can also follow ConAgra Foods on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/ConAgraFoods) and on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/ConAgraFoods or @ConAgraFoods).
While on Twitter look up the hashtag #ChildHunger to see how others are helping to stop child hunger.
*I am a brand ambassador for the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign and I am going to be compensated for my participation. Any opinions expressed are entirely my own. Stats and information provided by ConAgra and Feeding America.
Jill says
Great challenge! For our Wednesday night kids’ program at church, the youngest group 3-5 y/os bring a canned/nonperishable food for our Love Cupboard as their offering. The kids love knowing they are helping people!
Nancy says
Our subdivision has a collection for a local food bank monthly, so I’ll accept the challenge!