Social distancing has caused NCWBA to cancel its Food from the Bar planned day of service at local Feeding America food banks, and has required postponement of many aspects of Food from the Bar 2020 campaigns (e.g., volunteer experiences, food donation campaigns). The disruption created by the COVID-19 pandemic has placed many vulnerable members of our communities, particularly children who are reliant on federally subsidized meals served through public school systems, at increased risk of hunger. Food banks are facing unprecedented challenges in meeting increased needs while coping with decreased volunteerism and skeleton staffs, who are putting their own health potentially in jeopardy by continuing to work on the front lines.

 

What can women's bar associations do to help?  Even if there is no Food from the Bar campaign in your city, or your Food from the Bar campaign has been postponed, your members can still support your local Feeding America food banks. Even if stay-at-home restrictions prevent you from volunteering or hosting fund-raising events or donating food, you can still support the food banks through money donations and other gestures of support. Virtually all food banks are set up for online giving. Here are a few ideas on how you can continue to support Food from the Bar campaigns and local food banks from the comfort of your home:

 

1. Have a "virtual" day of service - i.e., pick a day and challenge your members and others in the legal community all to make some monetary donation on that day, and then report on number of participants nad amount raised. Engage your children to make posters to be circulated on line to publicize this "virtual day of service."

 

2. Invite a food bank representative to speak to your members at a Zoom virtual meeting.

 

3. Host a Zoom virtual cocktail hour where the "price of admission" is a monetary donation to the local food bank.

 

4. Write a letter of support and thanks to food bank administration and personnel.

 

5. Issue a challenge to your members pegged to a donation to the food bank, e.g., "I'll donate $10 to the food bank for every person who sends me a picture of them from their high school prom."

 

6.  Ask your members or law firms to donate to the food bank the monies they otherwise would have spent on lunches and snacks if not working remotely.

 

7. Publicize in your newsletter or email blast the online donation link to your local food bank and its address to which checks should be sent.

Any other ideas or success stories in supporting Food from the Bar remotely or virtually?  Please share!  In the meantime, please stay safe and healthy and grateful for knowing where your next meal is coming from.   If you have any questions or would like further information, please reach out to NCWBA Food from the Bar liaison, Kathleen M. McDowell.