On Giving Tuesday, we celebrate the power of people around the world to transform their communities by giving back.
That power is more important than ever this year, as our communities and the organizations that support them have been challenged in myriad ways by the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most pervasive of those impacts is a steep rise in the number of hungry people around the world – and with that in mind, here are five reasons to consider donating to your local food bank for Giving Tuesday this year:
The need is huge – and growing. Globally, the U.N. World Food Programme estimates that the number of hungry people could grow to 270 million by the end of the year – an 82% increase since the pandemic began.
Resources are being stretched. Food banks and other organizations that combat hunger are working overtime to meet the skyrocketing need. Feeding America reports that food banks across the U.S. have seen need increase an average of 60% since March – at the same time that food costs have gone up and supply chains have been disrupted.
Students are among those impacted. In the U.S., 22 million kids rely on free and reduced-price meals at school. With many schools closed, food banks have stepped in to help fill that gap.
Food drive opportunities are limited. You may not be able to drop off canned goods at your office or church this year – but that’s OK, because food banks actually prefer cash donations. It allows them to purchase the healthy food their clients need and stretch their resources further by taking advantage of discounted prices.
Small donations have a big impact. Feeding America says that they can provide 10 meals for every dollar donated. That means even if your own resources are stretched thin this year, you can still make a difference.
Want to help? Donate to your local food bank, Feeding America, Meals on Wheels or the World Food Programme.
