Orgain (California), an organic protein and nutrition company, and WhyHunger, a New York-based non-profit working to address the root causes of hunger and poverty have partnered on a nationwide #ShakeHunger campaign to help close the nutrition gap in the United States and work on long-term solutions to hunger. Together with some of the food world’s most notable chefs, they are bringing much-needed attention, funds and nutritious food to the emergency food landscape, where success has been traditionally measured by quantity of food rather than quality.
Orgain’s founder, Dr. Andrew Abraham, is committed to changing that paradigm. “As a teenager battling cancer, I attributed my recovery to the power of nutrition,” said Abraham. “I learned firsthand the deep and important connection between quality nutrition and health, and the importance of nourishing my body with clean, organic and nutritious ingredients. These same values have become our primary mission at Orgain. By partnering with WhyHunger, we’re committed to doing our part to transform the emergency food system into one that prioritizes health and puts a premium on change in the form of nutritious food.”
On May 23, WhyHunger and Orgain kicked off their nationwide #ShakeHunger campaign at a “Chopped-like” culinary challenge held at Chefs Club in New York City. Three celebrity chefs—including Floyd Cardoz (Bombay Bread Bar in NY), Leah Cohen (Pig & Khao, Piggyback Bar, NY & NJ respectively) and JJ Johnson (Ingrained Hospitality Concepts in NY)—were tasked to create a nutritious dish using four ingredients from a list of the most-needed donation items at food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens across the country. Categories included fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, oats and healthy cereals, and fresh or frozen meat, among others. The event was hosted by Chopped Judge, Restaurateur and Chef Marc Murphy, and the judges. Noreen Springstead (WhyHunger), Andrew Abraham (Orgain) and Chef Pearl Thompson (Elijah’s Promise), selected Chef Leah Cohen’s Corn Som Tam with Thai Grilled Chicken as the winning dish. To celebrate Leah’s win, Orgain will be donating some of the most-needed nutritious ingredients in her name to Elijah’s Promise, a local soup kitchen in New Jersey.
Orgain has already donated more than 50,000 of their Organic Nutrition shakes—a nutritious meal replacement with 16 grams of grass-fed protein, 21 vitamins and minerals, and healthy fats—to food banks across the country that are working with WhyHunger to address the nutrition gap. Orgain has a goal of increasing their shake donations to 200,000 in 2018 through a series of consumer challenges that encourage the public to get involved and spread the word. Each completed challenge will trigger one shake donation to food banks, pantries and soup kitchens across the country. Here are some ways to participate in the #ShakeHunger challenge:
- Learn: take a quiz on hunger.
- Share: choose one of seven infographics to share on social media.
- Pledge: upload a selfie and tag #ShakeHunger.
Visit http://orgain.com/shakehunger/ to join the challenge!
In mid-June 2018, Orgain will also introduce a new Bananas & Cream flavor to their best-selling Organic Nutrition shake line, in which they will donate $1 from every 4-pack sold and $3 for every case sold to WhyHunger. Through these efforts, Orgain is committed to donating at least $50,000 in 2018 to support WhyHunger’s grassroots and community-driven initiatives to improve nutrition services at food banks and pantries across the country and support long-term solutions to end hunger.
