Now here’s a reason to do the Pam Shuffle: With hardcover copies of #SlowCookerSunday—Leadership, Life and Slow Cooking with CEO and Chef, John Legere nearly sold out, T-Mobile is able to make a donation of $1 million to Feeding America to help the organization’s fight to end hunger in this country, Legere announced on his Sunday #SlowCookerSunday show. “Feeding America is an incredible organization and I’m proud to champion their mission to ensure that all Americans have access to something everyone deserves—healthy, nutritious food,” said Legere.
According to Feeding America's Chief Development Officer Andy Wilson, the gift will help the organization aid an astounding 10 million men, women and children facing hunger. Here, Wilson explains how this-and any!-donation helps Feeding America fight this truly good fight.
How exactly does a $1 million donation impact people in need through Feeding America?
Hunger is an issue that impacts every county in the country. Forty million people, including more than 12 million children, may not know where they will find their next meal. Because of Feeding America’s strategic partnerships to rescue food, this gift of $1 million helps to provide 10 million meals* for children, families and seniors in need.
Unlike, say, buying groceries at a store at everyday sticker prices, Feeding America works directly with major manufacturers, retailers and other partners across the country to secure safe, healthy food that would otherwise go to waste-up to 72 billion pounds of food is wasted in America each year. Every dollar donated to Feeding America helps secure and distribute at least 12 pounds of food. With an average meal, excluding water, weighing in at about 1.2 pounds of food, according to the USDA, we're able to feed 10 people for every dollar. Kind of astonishing-but true!
Needless to say, we are tremendously grateful for T-Mobile's commitment in helping to fight hunger and bringing national attention to this critical issue. We can't stress how thankful we are to have partners in John Legere and T-Mobile who engaged customers, employees and the public at large through campaigns, in-store activations and the cookbook itself.
A million dollars is a lot of money, clearly. How important is it for people to donate on a smaller level, and how can the average person pitch in and make a difference?
Everyone has a role to play in ending hunger, whether that’s making a donation, volunteering time at a local food bank, or using your voice on social media to spread the word. The Feeding America nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 meal programs includes soup kitchens, schools and food pantries. Food banks rely on donors and volunteers to carry out their day-to-day operations. It’s easy to support right in your community to help your neighbors in need. Feeding America has tons of resources for helping you find your food bank and learning how you can take action.
How important is it for industry leaders like John Legere and T-Mobile to make a pledge of this sort? What can other industry leaders and/or companies learn from this charge?
At Feeding America, we know that we cannot end hunger alone. Individuals, businesses, charities and government entities must all join the fight. The involvement of T-Mobile's leadership helps to truly shine a spotlight on the issue of hunger and efforts that are helping to change things for the better in communities across the country.
Has this campaign influenced what Feeding America does in any way, and will the impact be felt down the line in the future?
The success of this campaign will go a long way towards helping children and families who count on our support. Too many people in this country are forced to make tough choices between food and other life essentials like rent or medical care on a daily basis. Food banks are on the ground providing food to people who need it most. They prepare food boxes that are delivered to the homes of seniors, and provide food to school pantries and BackPack programs that are distributed to kids at the end of the day. And we’re providing more than just meals: We are helping to ensure that children receive proper nutrition for their growth and development.
What’s the next big initiative for Feeding America, and how can everyone reading this help?
Feeding America’s next big initiative is Hunger Action Month, which takes place every September to draw greater attention to the 40 million people across this country struggling with hunger. This year, in honor of our 40th Anniversary and those 40 million people who struggle with hunger, we are asking the public to take 40,000 actions to help. You can make a donation to Feeding America or your local food bank, volunteer, post on social media, or wear orange on Hunger Action Day, September 12th. There are lots of simple but effective ways to pitch in. For more information on how you can get involved, check out www.hungeractionmonth.org.
By the way, did any of the recipes in #SlowCookerSunday make it into your own slow-cooker rotation?
Oh, yes! The Thai Chicken Soup is a real favorite! (See recipe below.)
Thai Chicken Soup
Recipe Adapted From: foodiecrush.com
Tamaño de la olla de cocción lenta: 4 a 7 cuartos
Para 4 personas
Ingredientes
- 2 tablespoons red curry paste
- 2 (12-ounce) cans coconut milk
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1.5 pounds chicken breasts, cut into one-and-one-half-inch pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced into quarter-inch slices
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 1 heaping tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Cilantro, for garnish
- Cooked white rice
Pasos
- Mix the curry paste, coconut milk, chicken stock, fish sauce, brown sugar and peanut butter in the slow-cooker bowl. Place the chicken breast, red bell pepper, onion and ginger in the slow cooker. Tapar y cocinar al máximo por 4 horas.
- Add in the peas and cook for half an hour longer. Stir in lime juice and serve with cilantro and white rice.
*$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks.