Mar 22, 2021

Gift for Life supports COVID food relief efforts

Gift for Life is partnering with Home Textiles Today (HTT) magazine to launch a new text-to-donate and web campaign as part of Home Textiles Market Week, a virtual New York Home Fashions Market, Mar. 22-25, 2021 sponsored by HTT and the Home Fashion Products Association.  All donations will benefit COVID food relief efforts undertaken by World Central Kitchen (WCK), a nationwide emergency food relief program.

“This is Gift for Life’s inaugural fundraising campaign for our 2021 beneficiary, World Central Kitchen,” said Cole Daugherty, Gift for Life chair. “We are delighted to be first-time partners with Home Textiles Today in this effort and are looking forward to uniting Home Textiles Week participants in a common cause.”

All Home Textiles Market donations will directly benefit World Central Kitchen’s Restaurants for the People program, which meets critical needs on two fronts: buying meals directly from restaurants and delivering them to Americans who need help – in 400 cities across 35 states.  To date, the program has worked with 2,500 restaurants to serve over 12 million restaurant meals and have disbursed more than $135 million dollars directly to restaurants owners.

To donate, text FOOD to 80100, or visit https://donate.wck.org/HomeTextilesWeek. The minimum donation is $25, with a campaign goal set at $2,000.

World renowned chef José Andrés founded World Central Kitchen in 2010 with a goal of using food to empower communities and strengthen economies. In 2020, with COVID-19 straining traditional food security safety nets like school feeding programs, city services and food banks, WCK pivoted to safely distribute individually packaged, fresh meals in communities that need support. For information, visit www.wck.org.

Gift for Life unites the gift and home industries against HIV/AIDS as well as other philanthropic needs identified by its board of directors. Since its inception in 1992, Gift for Life has raised nearly $6 million through nationwide at-market events, cause marketing programs and direct donations. With COVID-19 temporarily causing cancelation of in-person events at industry markets, Gift for Life has pivoted towards online digital events for the balance of 2021, with a specific emphasis on COVID food relief. Adam Glassman, creative director of O, The Oprah Magazine, serves as Gift for Life’s 2021 honorary chair and spokesperson.  For more information, visit www.giftforlife.org.