This weekend many #HashtagLunchbag city chapters got together to give to those in need in their community.  As we see the amazing photos on social media from people who spent their time living through giving, we sometimes like to take a moment to remind ourselves why we do what we do.

This weekend many #HashtagLunchbag city chapters got together to give to those in need in their community.  As we see the amazing photos on social media from people who spent their time living through giving, we sometimes like to take a moment to remind ourselves why we do what we do.

Living Through Giving is the intention behind what we do and the engine that powers the #HashtagLunchbag movement. This intention is the idea that #HashtagLunchbag provides an experience where people have the opportunity to perform acts of kindness, big or small, in daily life.  To come together with other likeminded people from their community to serve those in need.

We consider the lunches we make vessels of love not only because they could be the only healthy meal a recipient eats that day, but because of the love notes inside. Love notes are a key component of a #HashtagLunchbag event. These notes acknowledge the humanity of the recipient, that which connects each and every one of us. These notes can be just as powerful for the person creating them as well. You never know what someone is going through and how they got there. Sometimes, a person needs a reminder that they’re not alone and someone is thinking about them. We all do.

For the lunches themselves, The National Coalition for Homelessness did a study in 2014 regarding food sharing that stated an estimated 1 in 6 Americans go hungry on a daily basis. They also found that food-sharing programs, while not eradicating hunger, are extremely helpful for those in need. 

“There are many myths and motivations that are frequently circulated regarding the issues of homelessness and food sharing. These myths have lead to some commonly accepted rationales for passing laws that restrict or prohibit food-sharing. One of the most narrow-minded ideas when it comes to homelessness and food sharing is that sharing food with people in need enables them to remain homeless. In many cases food-sharing programs might be the only occasion in which some homeless individuals will have access to healthy, safe food.”

Reports like this show that what we do in each of our cities with what we have access to give does matter. People doing what theycan, where they can, with what they have access to (big or small!) matters. Every bit of proactive kindness to someone in need matters.

At #HashtagLunchbag, our goal is to bring awareness to hunger, while building communities of like-minded people who are willing to proactively engage in their local areas. We firmly believe that small ripples become big waves of change over time so we continue to work hard to inspire and change the way people think about #LivingThroughGiving in their local communities. 

“Never worry about number. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you” – Mother Teresa

All photos by Jennifer Johnson Photography