About a year ago, a group of organizations began a series of discussions that led to the development of the #GiveHealthy Movement. The idea was that #GiveHealthy could both heighten public awareness that hunger is a health issue and provide a way for people to donate fresh produce and other healthy food. It could bring together a diverse set of people and organizations whose commonality lay in the pursuit of a single achievable goal – to get the 100 Million people who donate food to food drives each year to donate healthy food.
This group became the Founding Partners, and after a couple of months of planning, the #GiveHealthy Movement was launched in May 2017 at the Broccoli City Festival in Washington, DC. The #GiveHealthy website was launched at the same time, providing an easy way for people and organizations to join and support the movement.
Since then, it’s been quite a ride thanks to the growth of an incredible roster of Partners, Ambassadors and many others who have joined #GiveHealthy and are participating in a variety of ways.
In July, Feeding America began collaborating with #GiveHealthy and we launched a pilot program with them in September and are now working with Food Banks across the country.
In October, we held a United Nations official World Food Day Launch event in partnership with Food Tank and World Food Program USA. So much fun – you had to be there!
The breadth of the people and organizations joining #GiveHealthy since then has been inspirational. Hunger relief organizations, universities, companies, non-profit organizations focused on nutrition, health, obesity and cancer have become Partners, Ambassadors, Collaborators and Supporters. #GiveHealthy now includes medical professionals, chefs, nutritionists, dieticians, educators, scientists and lots of other people who think this is a really good idea, all focused upon one simple goal – getting healthier food to people struggling with food insecurity.
On behalf of the Founding Partners WhyHunger, Foodtank, Wholesome Wave, Ashley Koff Approved and Amp Your Good, a big shout out to everyone who has helped make the first 7 months of #GiveHealthy such a success! As we look ahead to 2018, it’s time to buckle up because it looks like things are going to pick up speed and get even more exciting. It’s clear that 2017 was just the beginning!
