The Amazon founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, is donating $100 million to Feeding America, a nonprofit that helps food banks provide food for families in need. He was inspired to help because the spread of the coronavirus made him feel it was essential to do so. So many people already have a hard time getting food for their families, but now that difficulty has increased tremendously. Not only that, but now the food banks themselves are facing shortages due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Bezos wrote in a post on his Instagram:
“Even in ordinary times, food insecurity in American households is an important problem, and unfortunately, COVID-19 is amplifying that stress significantly. Non-profit food banks and food pantries rely in large part on surplus food from a range of food businesses. For example, many restaurants donate excess food. But during this time of social distancing, restaurants are closed, and many other normal channels of excess food have also shut down. To make matters worse, as supply is dwindling, demand for food bank services is going up.
Today, I want to support those on the front lines at our nation’s food banks and those who are relying on them for food with a $100 million gift to @FeedingAmerica. Feeding America will quickly distribute the funds to its national network of food banks and food pantries, getting food to those countless families who need it. Feeding America is the largest non-profit focused on food security. Millions of Americans are turning to food banks during this time. If you want to help, the link to Feeding America is in my bio. They’d be excited and grateful for donations of any size.”
Bezos and Amazon have been collaborating with efforts behind the scenes during the pandemic. He and the company have been providing IT support, hosting talks with the World Health Organization, and offering to deliver COVID-19 test kits to homes in the UK. Also, a donation of $1 million (made together with Microsoft) was granted to a Seattle-based fund for coronavirus response.
Amazon set up a $25 million relief fund for its employees, including independent delivery drivers and seasonal employees, to help them through these hard times. However, Amazon warehouse employees are still required to work as that part of the business has been deemed “essential.”
Feeding America is also getting help from Leonardo DiCaprio, Apple, and Laurene Powell Jobs. The trio teamed up and launched a new organization called America’s Food Fund, and Feeding America will be one of its first beneficiaries.
