LOS ANGELES: Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio will help launch a donation drive which has already raised $12 million to help communities impacted by the coronavirus.
The America Food Fund has said that the funds will be aimed to help low-income families, the elderly, individuals facing job disruptions and children who rely on school lunch programs. The food fund will work with hunger relief organizations World Central Kitchen and Feeding America.
DiCaprio serves as a co-founder of America’s Food Fund with philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs. Apple and the Ford Foundation are also providing money to help launch the new initiative, while celebrity host Oprah Winfrey has shown her support.
In the face of this crisis, orgs like @WCKitchen & @FeedingAmerica have inspired us all with their unwavering commitment to feed the most vulnerable people in need. Today, we launched #AmericasFoodFund to support @FeedingAmerica & @WCKitchen‘s efforts: https://t.co/L7jgB3GUC3 pic.twitter.com/zhV4MawCVj
— Leonardo DiCaprio (@LeoDiCaprio) April 2, 2020
“In the face of this crisis, organizations like World Central Kitchen and Feeding America have inspired us all with their unwavering commitment to feed the most vulnerable people in need,” DiCaprio said in a statement. “I thank them for their tireless work on the frontlines, they deserve all of our support.”
The fund organisers said donations to America’s Food Fund are being accepted and will be used on efforts to get meals to those who need them. “With millions losing their jobs and programs like school lunches in jeopardy, making sure people aren’t going hungry is of the utmost urgency,” said Powell Jobs.
Jose Andres, founder of World Central Kitchen said: “In times of need, a plate of food is both vital nourishment and a message of hope from the community, that we care and we’re here to make sure that tomorrow, things will be better”.
The global pandemic has affected over a million people and killed more than 47,000 worldwide, crippled economies and forced restrictions on the movement of millions of people in an effort to stop the virus from spreading further and overwhelming health care systems.
.@chefjoseandres and Claire Babineaux-Fontenot have teamed up with @LeoDiCaprio, Laurene Powell Jobs and @Apple to launch America’s Food Fund to help feed local communities. pic.twitter.com/O5hl9J8FDi
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) April 2, 2020
