Memorial Day is a time to remember and also a time to be thankful. If you are looking for a way to give back this weekend, here’s a chance to get a good meal and make a difference.
The la Madeleine “Recipes for Hope” campaign is wrapping up next week, but during the long weekend, if you take the time to stop in at one of these local French bakeries, you can make a difference in regard to childhood hunger.
The Children’s Hunger Fund along with la Madeleine are challenging guests to consider a meal for a meal.
For every guest who purchases a jar of la Madeleine Tomato Basil Soupe, Jam, or Caesar Dressing, the company will donate $1 to Children’s Hunger Fund.
“Over the past five years, our generous guests have helped us provide 5 million meals through our ongoing partnership with Children’s Hunger Fund,” said la Madeleine President John Cahill. “By working together to deliver our Recipe for Hope, we are able to further the mission to put an end to childhood hunger one meal at a time, and we hope our guests will join us once again in our annual effort.”
The goal for this year’s campaign is $350,000 and 1.4 million meals provided.
Over the year the partnership between La Madeleine and the Children’s Hunger Fund has been so successful it has provided over five million meals. The success story goes even further: Children’s Hunger Fund opened a distribution center in Dallas, marking the second distribution center in Texas.
Every dollar raised this weekend and until the end of May will provide four meals to hungry children in the U.S. and throughout the world.
Earlier this month, 50 volunteers assembled more than 42,000 meal kits - enough to feed 1,500 families for a week for the Recipes for Hope campaign.
Inside the 20-pound meal kit, there is staple food designed to supplement a family of four for about a week. Typical items include dry beans, pasta, vegetables, fruit, tomato sauce, canned meats, peanut butter, canned goods, cereal, granola or protein bar, and cooking oil.
“Partnerships with companies like la Madeleine French Bakery & Café do more than raise money – they inspire the hope that together, we can solve the problem of childhood hunger,” said Children’s Hunger Fund Executive Director, Relationship Development Michael Richards. “With la Madeleine’s ongoing support, we have been able to build a Dallas distribution center that provides a cost-efficient way to get food to families in need, and through campaigns like Recipes for Hope, purchase the food itself.”
In addition to taking part in the Hope by the Jarful in which la Madeleine will donate $1 for every jar of Tomato Basil Soupe, Caesar Dressing, or Jam purchased, guests can also take part in the Recipes for Happiness. Recipe for Happiness allows la Madeleine guests to donate $5 and receive a “Recipes for Happiness” card featuring shareable offers, rewards, and discounts. Folks can also make an open donation and every $1 donated provides up to four meals.
Since its founding in 1991, Children’s Hunger Fund has distributed more than $1 billion in aid to children in need.