As many countries face a second wave of COVID-19, we may need to dig a little deeper to find joy this holiday season. This is especially true for families facing food insecurity in the low-income communities we work with. On top of the devastating health impacts of COVID-19, the virus has also created a ‘hunger pandemic’ that’s driving many vulnerable families further into poverty. 

Despite the seemingly endless bad news, there is hope on the horizon. We’ve already served hundreds of thousands of meals through our community soup kitchens in Peru and Ecuador. And we’re not stopping until we reach 1 million! At MEDLIFE, we believe no family should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, especially during the holidays. 

Here are 10 ways you can help fight the hunger pandemic this holiday season.

1. Donate to Moving Mountains in honor of a loved one

Thanks to the support of our generous community of monthly donors, we’ve been able to bring COVID-19 relief to thousands of families throughout 2020. But the needs of low-income communities in Peru and Ecuador continue to grow as local economies struggle to recover. You can join our Monthly Giving Program to help bring sustainable relief that addresses families’ most urgent needs! 

If you’re not quite ready to commit to monthly giving, you can also make a one-time donation. In times of uncertainty, every little bit helps bring food security to the families who need it most. Whichever option you choose, you can dedicate your donation to a loved one as a truly meaningful holiday gift. 

2. Reach out to a business or corporate sponsor

Do you know any business owners who might be interested in supporting a worthy cause this holiday season? Help us and support them with a chance to build their reputation as a socially responsible organization! There are so many opportunities for corporates to create a positive difference in the world. For example, they could donate a portion of their profits for a limited time or sponsor a community soup kitchen!

This year, we’ve already collaborated with Exodus Travels, PEAK DMC, and Chimu Adventures in supporting community members affected by the sudden drop in tourism. Use this letter template to reach out to a corporation or franchise near you today!

3. Double Your Donation with gift matching

Another way to harness corporate support is by using employer gift matching when you make a donation.

How it works: Visit our fundraising page and make a donation to our Moving Mountains campaign. Once your donation has been processed you will have the option to look up your employer. You will then be able to see if they have a gift matching program. If they do, it will provide all the information and steps you need in order to have your employer match the donation you made. This is a simple and effective way to double your impact over the holiday season!

4. Create your own fundraising page

Whether you’re a Chapter member, MEDLIFE alumni, or simply a passionate believer in the Movement, you’re more than welcome to start your own fundraising page! You can help fight the hunger pandemic by going to our Give Lively page and creating your own fundraising profile. After personalizing your account, we encourage you to share it on social media and ask your friends and family to make a donation – perhaps as a virtual holiday gift! 

Another option is creating a fundraiser through Facebook’s fundraising platform. This makes it super easy to share and promote your page to everyone in your friend list! 

5. Give gear that gives back

Spark joy for yourself and others this holiday season by shopping for MEDLIFE merch. Whether you’re treating yourself or looking for a thoughtful holiday gift, you’re sure to find the perfect item in our online store. Our cozy sweatshirts are perfect for rugging up on chilly winter evenings. Better yet, they show the world that you’re a proud member of the MEDLIFE Movement!

Every purchase helps bring food security to vulnerable families this holiday season. Shop now.

6. Play fundraising bingo

After setting up your Give Lively fundraising page, you can use our fundraising Bingo Boards to raise $100 to fight the hunger pandemic in a 24-hour period. Each time you receive a donation, you can tick off a box on the Bingo Board, tag the donor, and build momentum as you get closer to your goal! 

You’ll find these graphics (and more) in our Instagram Highlights.

7. Give the gift of (virtual) travel!  

A MEDLIFE voucher is a perfect gift for the adventurous traveler in your life – especially as we continue to look forward to borders reopening and travel restrictions lifting! You can purchase a travel voucher through our partner travel company Good Life Expeditions, for a future trip. You can also give a voucher for MEDLIFE Service Learning Trips, including our brand new Virtual Service Learning Trip! This unique experience allows participants to travel virtually and learn about global inequalities without leaving the comfort of home. 

Contact us today for more information. 

8. Host a Holiday Power Hour with friends and family

Although many of us can’t be together for a warm meal this holiday season, you can help make sure that others don’t go hungry with our friends and family fundraising challenge! To join the challenge, all you have to do is create a friends and family fundraising page on Give Lively and then have your group reach out to their network for donations.

To make it festive, you could host a holiday party on zoom to hang out while you fundraise together! Even if you can’t all be together physically, this is a great way to celebrate the holidays while giving back. Create a family and friends fundraiser today.

9. Spread the word

We understand that times are tough right now and not everyone will be able to contribute financially. You can still help bring hunger relief to families facing food insecurity by helping us spread the word and grow the MEDLIFE Movement. 

You can do this by sharing our posts on social media, referring a friend to MEDLIFE, starting a Chapter at your school, or simply by telling others about your experience with MEDLIFE.

No matter where you are in the world this holiday season, we wish you a safe and joyful time with family and loved ones. Thank you for being part of the MEDLIFE Movement in 2020 and helping us feed families throughout the hunger pandemic. We can’t wait to see what we achieve together in 2021 and beyond!