This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Walmart Foundation for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
When I read this opportunity to write about Walmart working with Feeding America in a nationwide Fighting Hunger Together initiative, I was really surprised that my favorite season, Spring, brought with it something called the Spring hunger gap.
More than 50 million Americans do not know where their next meal is going to come from, and springtime traditionally brings a decrease in food and charitable donations to food banks around the country. This is the Spring hunger gap, a gap that Walmart and Feeding America are joining together to help bridge, One of the principal causes of hunger is unemployment.
This information touched me deeply. I love spring, I rejoice when it is here, but I didn’t know that with it came shortages and hunger. I have personally seen the importance of charitable food donations, as I used to run a kitchen that fed over 100 children every week. I would personally go to our local food bank to get food supplies. The idea of places like these being short on food makes me very concerned.
What can we do?
Well, between April 9th and April 30th, Walmart will be hosting a Facebook campaign, Vote to fight spring hunger with Walmart where fans can rally support for communities in need of hunger relief. Vote among 200 communities with the highest unemployment rate as determined by a Department of Labor Report (found here).
Walmart will donate a total of $2 million to the 21 communities receiving the most support: $1 million to the winner and $50,000 each to the 20 runners-up. Winning communities will be announced may 1st.
The Fighting hunger Together initiative is expected to generate 43 million meals for families in need! That is a lot of grub! Awesome!
I personally will be voting for Detroit, MI. My Grandfather used to pastor a church in that area. I remember visiting as a child, so it is a special place for me. I encourage you to check out the list, choose a location that stands out to you, and vote on Facebook between April 9-30.
You can also go in-store between April 9 and April 30th and participate by purchasing select products. You can donate meals to Feeding America or Action for Healthy Kids, a non profit fighting childhood hunger. Check out in-store signage and packaging to make a purchase and help make a difference!
Meet Adam & Krisi Lee
They are Thrive food consultants, and are ready to tell you all about their love for Thrive foods.
Shelf Reliance is the only company in the world who offers an innovative online program that helps you create your own home grocery store. Shelf Reliance is not just any type of food – but THRIVE products are all-natural, so naturally they are good for you. THRIVE foods do not contain harmful additives or preservatives, so you can feel confident that when you eat THRIVE, you are guiding your family to a healthy and happy life.
You will enjoy their online store. I was fascinated looking around at their product. I personally would LOVE to use their freeze dried fruit. I think I would be throwing strawberries into everything, especially granola. I’m sure you would also find me eating them right from the can. Yum!
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***TO ENTER, let us know what two or three products you’d most like to try from the SHOP.***
follow Krisi’s Shelf Reliance blog here
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Last Week’s Twisted Tape Giveaway Winner
Cari @ Zah?
Check out her super cute super power birthday she had for her 1 year old!
**TO ENTER GIVEAWAY, DO ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING**
For each of these entries, you must comment separately – one comment saying you tweeted, one saying you follow shared about Twisted Tape on Facebook, etc. That gives you a total of 4 entries!
Friends, did you know that in the very near future, Google Friend Connect is going to discontinue use for all non-Blogger blogs!
Whew! That’s a lot of different ways to connect
Today’s giveaway is a special one – one reader will win a copy of the book, “Because Of Katie.”
This is a book I wish everyone could read. An important real life story of a ray of sunshine named Katie, and her cancer diagnosis. The book takes you through her story, from diagnosis, treatment, surgery, recovery, relapse and beyond. It is a story by her mother, Karen Gerstenberger, told as only a Mother could.
I’ve never met Karen, but my heart feels bonded to hers. I felt a connection to her before reading her book, for her comments and online notes to me during my cancer journey always stood out. I knew she was a mother who just knew, and I was often overwhelmed by her understanding and kindness through words, to me.
After reading “Because of Katie,” my connection feels much deeper. Karen wrote this book, exposing her mothers heart for all of us to know and learn from. She shares this beautiful daughter of hers, and allows us as readers to learn what a journey with cancer can look like for families. She writes in such an intimate and honest way, so much so that I felt like I was there with her. She exposes the reality of what this disease can do, and does do. She shows what families most need at such a time of crisis. She teaches us how to fight for the best care for our loved ones. She has gentle words of wisdom for care providers and those who work in the medical community.
Karen sent me her book to read, I received it on a Friday afternoon, and started reading it right away. I read all that evening. I had a really hard time putting it down in order to participate in our ‘Friday Family Night.’ I read late into the night and finished the book the very next day, mid morning! It drew me in and although I finished the book, its content has not let me go.
Katie, I will always remember you and your beautiful spirit. Karen, just..Thank you.
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Karen has been asked to speak about their journey to many groups and felt that the best way to tell Katie’s story (and her family’s), and to help others, was to write it down. The book is written to stand alone, or to accompany a video which she is finishing, to teach residents about family-and patient-centered care.
She has generously given us a copy of her book for this weeks giveaway, but if you would rather just order the book immediately, you can order it from Amazon:
The winners of the Prairie Homestead Giveaway are:
