**This is a post presented in partnership with Unilever and the Share a Meal program. All opinions are my own.**
I am going to start with sharing this video from Unilever and the Share a Meal program. If it does not call all of us to action, no matter how small, to end child hunger, I don’t know what will.
As a woman who spent the first part of her childhood hungry, I can relate to the video above. I have written many times about my life before my parents adopted me at the age of 8 and how my brothers and I had a rough start. Since then, we have all come out of it better people with hearts for helping others. Especially for children. Because we know the gnawing and seemingly unending yearning for food to make it go away.
Over 16 million children in the United States alone go to bed hungry every night. 16 MILLION. Hunger in America has no boundaries – rural, urban and suburban – and with 1 in 5 children unaware where their next meal is coming from, one of these children could be your own neighbor or even your child’s best friend. I was one of those kids and I would not wish it on my worst enemy.
To shine the light on what the face of child hunger in America looks like today, Unilever Project Sunlight is recruiting influencers across the country to help raise awareness of the issue that likely impacts everyone’s neighborhood and unfortunately often goes unnoticed. Unilever Project Sunlight is an initiative focused on encouraging people to create a brighter future for children – by taking small steps to live sustainably, use less and share even more. This fall the initiative will be focusing on child hunger and will be encouraging all consumers to uncover the reasons they share The documentary to which you saw the trailer above launches the “You Buy One, We Give One” limited-time coupon when you purchase ANY Unilever product. Americans can redeem at participating stores and Unilever will donate one meal to Feeding America when you purchase any participating Unilever product.
The task is simple – #ShareaMeal today – but the need is great. It may seem like your donation or your school food drive won’t even begin to aid in resolving the issue. But the truth is, as a child, I remember well the neighbor that brought over meals and the Church women who supplied bread. The generosity of strangers allowed me to go to bed full a few nights a year. Imagine if 365 people donated something. Then 365 meals, at the very least, could be provided. One for every day of the year, letting kids who do not have enough at least have a full belly.
How will you help this holiday season? I donate a lot of toys to drives and I will be adding at least one food item per toy to my donation. It may not seem like a lot, but a little girls like I was out there will think it is a miracle!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Unilever. The opinions and text are all mine.
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