The Lunchbox Fund, a New York City-based non-profit, has been working to provide meals to rural South African children since 2005. Motivated by the connection between hunger and education, the fund focuses on providing children with one meal per day to promote better performance in schools and a consistent source of nourishment. Working across South Africa, The Lunchbox Fund provides meals to areas with some of the highest rates of poverty, significant presence of HIV/AIDS, and high levels of gang activity.
The Lunchbox Fund’s most recent campaign, Feedie, aims to tap into the foodie photo market to convert pictures of gourmet main course meals into real peanut butter sandwiches for school children in South Africa. More than 50 Manhattan restaurants have already signed up to contribute to the cause. Each photo of a meal taken at a participating eatery and posted to social media translates into a donation from the restaurant to The Lunchbox Fund. Over 800 meals have already been provided as a result of Feedie.