Every once in a while, I am struck by a thought so profound and monumental that it stops me in my tracks no matter what I’m doing: I am lucky. The reason this thought is so enlightening is because I, like millions of others out there who are also lucky, tend to forget just how lucky I am. Of course we all have daily complaints, no matter where we live or how much money we make – we’re human. But, it’s important to remember the difference between complaints and real problems. Just like it’s important to recognize that thousands of food bloggers out there are cooking and eating elaborate meals on a daily basis for entertain and enjoyment while there are others, specifically children, who aren’t getting a simple school lunch and who don’t have a Harris Teeter, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s within walking distance.

I am one of those food bloggers who is lucky enough to eat for more than just sustenance, and it breaks my heart every day that there are kids out there who aren’t eating tuna fish sandwiches or PBJs every day for lunch like I did when I grew up.

Today, we can change that. Today, food bloggers are coming together for a nationwide fundraiser with the goal of raising funds to provide one daily meal to 100 South African schoolchildren for one year.  Today, I’m asking that you join me in making a change in the lives of those that go hungry. I’m challenging you to join me in donating just $10 to The Lunchbox Fund to provide lunch for those schoolchildren for one year. A lunch that could possibly be their only meal of the day.

This food blogging organizational inspiration began with Los Angeles native, innovative philanthropist, and food blogger of Eat this Poem Nicole Gulotta, the driving force behind The Giving Table. The inspiring nonprofit, which she started in 2011, brings like-minded food bloggers from all corners of the globe together for powerful social change. Nicole organizes short-term fundraising campaigns every few months, and enlists the help of the food blog community. When searching for campaigns, Nicole looks for projects that are reachable, like The Lunchbox Fund. The Lunchbox Fund has a mission to fight hunger among these children who are not eating, but go to school and are expected to learn while their stomach grumble and their heads are in a fog. If I could make those kids these chicken fingers for lunch every day, I would. Till then, I hope my donation will do a small part to change their lives for the better.

The Lunchbox Fund identifies schools or forms partnerships with locally based NGOs or community organizations in order to evaluate and identify schools. It funds distributors to buy and deliver food, monitor the feeding scheme, implement a Project Manager, and deliver reports back to them for evaluation.

Please, consider donating to the Giving Table fundraising campaign to provide 100 South African school children a daily meal for one year.

Choose an amount, any amount, and give. Think of how many times you’ve gone out to lunch with friends this month. If you bring a bag lunch to work a few days this week instead of eating off the over-priced lunch menu at the restaurant down the street, you can help at least one child make it through the school day with a full belly.