How Feeding America is Using Social Media in its Virtual Canned Food Drive

Instead of opting for a traditional outreach program, Feeding America is taking a different approach in one of its more recent campaigns and is using the power of social media to host a virtual canned food drive. Call it a new spin on an old idea. The goal is simple: help fight hunger by donating to Feeding America, a non profit organization that provides food to 37 million low income Americans every year. To participate one can start a virtual food drive of their own or support someone they know. It’s a great way of building a community around an important mission. As an added incentive, Libby’s Fruits and Vegetables will match dollar for dollar the amount of donations that are received totaling up to $40,000.

Creating a virtual drive is as easy as clicking over to the Feeding America site and navigating to the start tab. To get started simply choose how much you want to set the donation goal at and register a user name. Anyone who can raise $1500 will receive a years supply of canned goods, however it’s up to the food drive creator to set their donation goal as high or as low as they want. Once a virtual drive is created there are options to customize the donation page and send personal email notifications. Every donation page measures how much further it takes to reach the set goal and pays recognition to those who’ve donated.

Feeding America supports 200 food banks in the United States and distributes more than 2.5 million pounds of food annually. Donating just $15 helps provide 210 meals to needy families and $1 is equal to 9 about pounds of food. In a report produced earlier this year, Feeding America found some surprising statistics:

• 1 in 8 Americans rely on Feeding America for food
• 1 in 6 Americans faces issues with hunger
• Over 16 million children live in households without enough food
• More than 1/3 of households reported have to choose between food and necessities such as rent and medical care
• 36% of the households have at least one person in the family working
• The average monthly income of those surveyed was $940
• 10% of households were homeless

The need for donations is prevalent. By using social media and having a virtual drive, supporters are encouraged to spread the word via traditional methods and social networks. Feeding America itself is heavily active on Twitter, Facebook, and updates a blog regularly. This month the organization has declared September as Hunger Action Month and challenges followers to look at hunger in a different way every day of the month in September.

I was first informed about Feeding Americas via a tweet from author Christopher Burgess. Click here to help support his virtual food drive. The campaign runs from now until December 13th.

Orignal Source: www.justmeans.com/How-Feeding-America-is-Using-Social-Media-in-its-Virtual-Canned-Food-Drive/30889.html