Every Tote Sold Provides 10 School Meals to Children in Need
Introducing the new limited-edition Goldbelly x FEED Market Tote & Mom & Pop Charm Collection! Created in the spirit of Giving Tuesday, it’s perfect for showing your love for the small food makers who give our communities their flavor. For every tote sold, FEED provides 10 school meals—support that lasts far beyond the holidays. It’s a holiday gift that gives back, one tote at a time.
We spoke with FEED founder Lauren Bush Lauren about the inspiration behind FEED, the partnership, and ways to give back to the community.
Where did you get the inspiration for FEED? How did you land on the concept of the totes?
Lauren Bush Lauren: I had the ‘AHA’ moment for FEED when I was a student in college and actually studying abroad in Australia. I had been a Student Ambassador for the UN World Food Programme for a few years and felt a growing frustration about visiting communities and families around the world who are struggling with food insecurity and then coming back from those experiences not knowing how I could truly help and engage others in the overwhelming issue of world hunger and specifically childhood hunger. The program I saw in action during my travels was school feeding, where kids are going to school and getting a free and nutritious meal which in many parts of the world is the only safety net these kids had and it is enough to help incentivize them to go to school and stay in school longer. So to me, this school feeding program was so simple and yet so transformative for kids who with a full belly and an education have a better chance of breaking out of the poverty cycle they were born into. So back to Australia… Australia was more than a decade ahead of the U.S. in its reusable bag movement. Everyone I saw in Australia would go to the grocery store with a green reusable bag instead of single-use plastic bags. So it suddenly struck me that why not create a reusable bag that would actually help to feed children in school- allowing customers to become donors in a fashionable and seamless way! And that was the nugget of the idea that started FEED.
Why do you think GB and FEED make a great partnership?
I think Goldbelly is such a natural partner for FEED as it is a brand and company all about the joys of food and supporting small businesses and livelihoods. We are both Founder-led companies as well which means we can be nimble and execute partnerships with a lot of love and heart. When I met Vanessa and Joe it was such a fluid and fun meeting, I knew that we were meant to collaborate. And it is such a dream to see FEED and our mission being supported by Goldbelly’s tribe of food-enthusiasts this Giving Tuesday!
What are other ways you encourage people to give back to their communities?
Beyond giving your treasure, it is also important to give your time and talent. Most local food banks and food pantries rely on volunteers for the bulk of their manpower in getting food to those who need it most. So by donating your time to volunteer to repack food with your family, friends or team this holiday (or really anytime you can) that can really make a difference.
The Goldbelly x FEED Collaboration
This collab is rooted in our shared mission to nourish people and community: Goldbelly champions small food makers across the country, from small-town artisans to big-city legends, and FEED Projects has provided over 128 million school meals worldwide, advancing their mission to build a more just and well-fed future.
This season, hit your local holiday market with a new limited-edition Goldbelly x FEED Tote and show some love for the mom & pop shops who give our communities their flavor. Every tote makes it effortless (and trés chic) to shop local, while each customizable hand-crafted charm is a tiny tribute to the makers we can’t live without.
