I believe that obesity and world hunger are two sides of the same coin.

That is why I am supporting the Lose for Good campaign by WeightWatchers^®.

As their members lose weight, WeightWatchers^® is pledging to donate upto $1 million to help feed the world’s hungry through its charitable partners Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger. They are also organizing local food drives to collect food donations. Last year’s campaign resulted in over 1.5 million pounds of donated food and $1 million in cash donations. I hope they do even a better job this year!

Today, in particular, is another opportunity for you to help raise an additional $25,000 by participating in their day-long Lose-A-Palooza social media campaign. Here are a few simple things you can do:

1. Leave a comment on this post and include the phrase “Lose for Good” in your note. Feel free to express your opinion and ideas about solving the problem of hunger even though we produce (and waste) a lot of food every year!
2. Send your friends to leave a comment on this blog post. Again, ask them to include the “Lose for Good” phrase.
3. Visit www.loseforgood.com and tell your friends about it via twitter, Facebook and MySpace.
4. Even better, sign up to lose weight yourself! You have until October 17th to shed those extra pounds you have always wanted to get rid off!

I have supported Share Our Strength in the past. I am glad they are going to be a major recipient of this donation from WeightWatchers^®.

Thank you for your support!

Hope is a wonderful thing. However hope is not a strategy!

Everyone has a renewed sense of hope these days, and it is all good. My hope is for a day when no child remains hungry and when no parent is tormented by the challenge of finding enough nutritious food to feed their family. Children are our future; we must do all we can to make sure that it is a bright and prosperous one for everybody.

It is indeed a great feeling to learn that there is an organization with a strategy to turn this hope into reality. Let us do our part to help them.

Share Our Strength is a national organization with excellent programs and great reach to help solve the problem of childhood hunger. I am especially impressed by their simple, yet powerful, philosophy:

Poverty is complex; feeding a child is not. Everyone has a strength and everyone has something to share. Chefs, companies, volunteers and everyday Americans who care.

Now Share Our Strength has launched a brand new campaign to raise funds to help end childhood hunger. “Operation No Kid Hungry“ responds to President Obama’s call to action to end childhood hunger by 2015. Share Our Strength has partnered with AT&T to offer two great ways that you can support and participate in “Operation No Kid Hungry”

1. Collect Food Donations

Now through January 31st, help feed those in need by donating food to your local food bank. Find a food bank near you and a list of the most needed nutritious foods. This has become very critical since local food banks are struggling to keep up with increased demand and reduced food donations due to the current economic downturn. Even a small neighborhood food drive can make a big impact.

2. Donate by text

Between now and March 1st, Text “SHARE” to 20222 on your mobile device to donate $5. AT&T will match all text donations up to $100,000.

Donations from the text program will help provide food for the 12.4 million children at risk of hunger in America and will help address the recent increase in demand for food aid across the nation. Click here for full details including service fees.

3. Spread the word

If you blog, you can also help by posting a banner or a badge (see an example on this blog) and writing a post. You can also tweet about it on Twitter. Click here for different banners and badges and select your favorite.

I am also pleased to learn that Share Our Strength’s child hunger partnership in my home state Florida, (the Florida Partnership to End Childhood Hunger) has successfully advocated for passage of The Willie Glenn Act which is bringing a summer meal site to within five miles of every elementary school in the state.  Today, all 68 counties in Florida now have summer meal programs—up from 30 in 2004.  See full details here.

I urge you to do something. Anything. Let us make childhood hunger history! Share a comment if you have already made a contribution.