How Food Companies Support Hunger Relief

One in six Americans are at risk of hunger, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service. In response, Mimi’s Cafe is taking its mission to help fight hunger a step further.

It is launching an ongoing hunger relief initiative in association with Food Donation Connection (FDC) – a national network that connects restaurants and food service companies with 7,600 local charities. The announcement was made Monday, May 14.

Recently, Baskin-Robbins, a leading chain of ice cream specialty shops, invited guests to try its new Iced Cappy Blast beverage in a nationwide effort to help Feeding America, a domestic hunger-relief charity, provide up to one million meals for local food banks. (Read: Baskin-Robbins’ Offer for Feeding America)

Earlier, Feeding America and the Ad Council launched a new series of national public service advertisements (PSAs) featuring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and other actors, designed to motivate Americans to get involved in the fight against hunger. (Read: Celebs Join Hands to Combat Hunger in the U.S.)

The anti-hunger movement got some major backing when representatives from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, The Band Perry, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and four of the nation’s largest food companies — General Mills, ConAgra Foods, Kraft Foods and Kellogg Company — announced they have come together to fight hunger this spring. (Read: How Walmart Plans to Fight Hunger in America)

Also, Whole Planet Foundation decided to kick off its 2012 Prosperity Campaign at Whole Foods Market, with the goal of raising $4.1 million to fund poverty alleviation projects across the globe and in the U.S. (Read: Whole Planet to Alleviate Poverty in the World)

Mimi’s Cafe will donate a quarter for every quart of “Soup To-Go” sold at all 145 locations to local hunger relief programs. Buyers will not only get one of Mimi’s soups for $5 or $6 by the quart, a portion of the proceeds will go to help enrich the lives of those less fortunate in local neighborhoods.

The “Soup To-Go” selections range from Roasted Tomato Basil ($5) to any of Mimi’s soups, such as Cafe Corn Chowder and French Onion Soup for $1 more. Mimi’s currently donates prepared food to these same agencies each day through FDC’s Harvest program.

To date, Mimi’s has donated the equivalent of 146,000 meals and raised nearly $23,000 in the first six weeks of the “Soup To-Go” program.

“At Mimi’s Cafe, we believe in giving back to the communities we serve,” explains Mark Mears, Mimi’s president.

To inform guests about an initiative that hits home, Mimi’s Cafe has set up table tents that include a special QR code. Buyers can scan the QR code with their mobile devices to learn more about the program, or visit www.mimiscafe.com/hunger for information and a list of local agencies.

Mimi’s Cafe, a French-inspired casual dining restaurant has 145 locations in 24 states. Mimi’s Cafe is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bob Evans Farms, Inc., a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: BOBE).

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