We’ve all heard the expression to “walk a mile in another man’s shoes.” But what if we ate for a week from someone else’s bowl?
Someone like Zoré Issouf.
Issouf is an orphan living in Burkina Faso. Issouf comes from a family with eight siblings. His father died because of alcohol. The children were left to a younger uncle who also began to drink heavily and died a few years later. Issouf’s sisters were forced to get married and the other brothers are doing small jobs in the village.
Right now, nearly half of the world’s population lives on less than $2.50 a day*. That’s more than 3 billion people who, each day, try to survive on the cost of a medium fast food milk shake.
Do you know the difference $2 can make? It can provide 40 meals to hungry people around the world.
Most of us who are reading this right now have stocked refrigerators and pantries in our homes and at our disposal. We have the option to cook our own dinner tonight or grab something when we leave the office. We don’t know what it’s like to live outside abundance and availability.
And, that’s exactly why we created the Beans & Rice Challenge. On October 16-20 (only five days), we ask you to forgo your typical fare and instead eat beans and rice for at least one meal a day, or more if you so choose. Then we ask you to donate the money you save.
Tally up what a typical week’s worth of meals costs, figure your beans and rice cost, and then donate the difference. Whether it’s $20, $120 or more for the entire week, every little bit matters when it comes to the cause of feeding the hungry around the world.
This challenge isn’t only about partnering with us to change lives. It’s also about walking in the shoes of people around the world who live with a lack of food on a daily basis. This is about actively choosing to better understand the plight of many around the world, including Issouf.
Eight years ago, Issouf went to live at Hope Center where he received consistent meals from Feeding The Nations, along with an education. Today, he is the only person in his family to have a diploma.
His cousin expressed gratitude for the help Issouf has received: “I have come to say thank you for what you have done for Issouf. Because you accepted him at the Hope Center, his life was not wasted. He survived because you cared for him, gave him food, a place to live. Thank you for saving his life.”
Commit to joining with us today so we can save the lives of more kids like Issouf. Mark your calendar now. Post this link on Facebook and challenge your friends and family to take part. Make this a learning experience for your kids. Together we can make a difference. Together we can feed nations of hungry people.
Follow us on Pinterest to find recipes for your five-day challenge. Stay up-to-date with us and learn about upcoming giveaways on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Sign-up for our email list to receive updates, recipes and encouragements along the way.
*Source: United Nations Development Programme via https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-global-poverty
