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No, you’re not having a flashback from middle school.
This impassioned plea came today from Fairfield-based Save the Children, kicking off a week-long campaign aimed at raising awareness of the severe hunger crisis crippling East Africa.
The global humanitarian organization is asking people to give up their lunch for one day and donate the money they would have spent to Save the Children.
Participate in the #Lunchless campaign takes four steps: Skip lunch for a day. Post a photo of yourself going #Lunchless on social media. Text LUNCHLESS to 20222 to donate $10. Spread the word via social media and word of mouth.
All funds raised will be matched up to $150,000 and go to Save the Children’s Child Hunger and Famine Relief Fund, which helps provide food, clean drinking water, lifesaving medical care and more to children and families affected by the hunger crisis.
Conflict and the worst drought in decades has left nearly 20 million children and families in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda in urgent need of food and water.
“For children to starve or die of thirst in this day and age is frankly outrageous,” said Carolyn Miles, Save the CHildren’s president and CEO. “For much of Somalia, it barely rained there last month. People are traveling hundreds of miles to get water and still can’t find it.”
Leading the way locally on the campaign will be State Rep. Christopher Rosario (Bridgeport), who will go lunch-less for one day this week.
“As an elected official, I use the power of social media every day to help me reach my constituents in Bridgeport and throughout Connecticut,” Rosario said. “This week, I’m proud to use my Twitter and Instagram accounts to help the millions of kids in Africa who are in desperate need of our help.”
To learn more about what Save the Children humanitarian response in East Africa, visit www.savethechildren.org/lunchless.
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