Help Us Fight Hunger During COVID-19

Hi, Friends,

We're as human as we've ever been now, aren't we? Our vulnerabilities laid bare. Our comfort disturbed and our security uncertain. In this war, we are at the shore of that most human battle between life and death. Love and loss. Sickness and health. Hunger and plenty.

I miss hugging my parents and little kisses from my nieces and nephew. I wish I could go to the grocery store or the pharmacy without anxiety. I know many of you are feeling the same. I also know I'm one of the lucky ones. Right now, my family and friends are healthy. My husband and I can work from home. My pantry, refrigerator and medicine cabinet are full and I'm not worried about not having enough food for myself or any of the people I love.

But there are millions of our fellow Americans who are hungry today. Some were already struggling. Others have lost jobs and income very suddenly. Like so many others, I sit here wondering what we can do to help.

I've never been truly hungry. I've never wondered where I would get my next meal. There's a nicer sounding phrase that's popular these days. "Food insecurity." But I call it hunger. Poverty. Starvation. It's ugly. And it shouldn't be happening in this country.

Food banks are taking a hit on all sides right now. Monetary donations are down because of job losses and fear for the future. Food donations are down
because grocery stores don't have as much surplus. Businesses that would donate in ordinary times are closing or drastically cutting back.

Children who would typically get free breakfast and lunch at school are home and not every district is able to replace those meals.

The hunger reality in this country is heartbreaking today and it's going to get worse in the months ahead. Before COVID-19, more than 37 million people in America faced hunger, 11 million of them children. I can only imagine those numbers are growing exponentially.

In our effort to help, we are donating 20% of our total sales to the Feeding America COVID-19 Response Fund, beginning Sunday, March 29 through the month of April. You can read more about the fund here.


Feeding America promises every dollar raised from the COVID-19 response fund will be used to get food and funds to local food banks across the U.S.

We hope you will join us in this effort to help our neighbors who are hungry. We have been inspired by so many acts of kindness these past weeks.
So. Many. Good. Humans.

Our deepest thanks and our whole hearts are with the medical professionals on the front lines whose bravery now will inspire us for generations. To the grocery store workers, delivery drivers, pharmacy workers and first responders-- we thank you. You are all essential. We need you.

My Mom has always told us that to whom much is given, much is required. I wish we could do more and we'll keep trying. Thank you for your support in this endeavor. The truth is, our humanity is on display now more than ever in our lifetimes. In some ways, we are all in the same boat. But as always, some are more fortunate than others. The only way we're going to make it out of this is if we help each other.

Please stay home and stay safe.

With Much Love,
Shannon

#BeAGoodHuman

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