Even in the best of times, more than 42 million people in the United States struggle with hunger every day, including more than 15.9 million children. Today, as COVID-19 continues to impact communities nationwide, the need to help feed families while supporting the food-service industry is more urgent than ever.
To help children and families enjoy healthy meals during this unprecedented time, Salesforce is partnering with Not Impossible Labs and the Civic Labs team at Postmates to support Hunger: Not Impossible, an initiative that addresses hunger in local communities and gives those in need stigma-free access to no-cost, healthy meals by simply using their mobile phones.1
How it works – Hunger: Not Impossible uses a chatbot and text message-driven platform to connect individuals and families in need with healthy, prepaid meals from nearby restaurants. When participants text the word “hungry” from their mobile phones, they will receive a curated menu of nutritious, prepaid food options from local restaurants that they can order from via text message and pick up through Postmates Pickup.
The Hunger: Not Impossible platform was built by a team of passionate Salesforce employees leveraging Salesforce Digital Engagement, Einstein Bots, and Community Cloud – all provided at no cost through Salesforce.org – and more than 700 hours of product guidance, strategy, and technical expertise donated by Salesforce’s Customer Success Group, as well as Traction on Demand and Accenture.
After three successful pilots that provided meals to more than 12,000 hunger insecure individuals, according to Hunger: Not Impossible, the initiative is rapidly expanding in cities around the nation to respond to COVID-19. It currently serves at-risk students through the Boys and Girls Club of Houston, FosterNation in Los Angeles, and WilyNetwork in Boston.
If you’d like to support Hunger: Not Impossible by making a donation to help provide meals to hungry individuals and families and make their technology available in more communities, please visit their website.
1 Standard message and data rates may apply.
