Join Social PixPod to help #HashTagLunchBagChicago prepare bagged lunches to share love and feed fellow Chicagoans who are hungry tomorrow, May 28 at 10 a.m. at The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. in Hyde Park.
Are you planning to get in on the fun this Saturday to help fill the tummies of locals with some yummy classic sandwiches? Well, here are 5 things you need to know about #HashTagLunchBag:
1. #HashTagLunchBag started in L.A. on Christmas
(Co-founders of #HashTagLunchBag sit with Vibe.com’s Paula Miranda to share their story of how it began. Photo credit: Vibe.com)
#HashTagLunchBag was launched in 2012 by a group friends who recognized the need for a fun and meaningful way to give back to locals. Inspired to empower humanity, together they caringly prepared lunches and wrote notes of love to share with the homeless living in their community. Overjoyed by their ability to feed 100 people, they were eager to share their stories across social media with friends using (you guessed it) #HashTagLunchBag. Their posts went viral and sparked what is now a global movement to “Feed and Feel Love” through providing nourishment to 1,400 people across 100+ cities including Chicago.
2. Chicago notables lend a hand
(Photo Credits: HashTagLunchBagChicago and Ciara Evans.)
When Ebony Washington brought #HashTagLunchBag to Chicago, she thought the concept was an exciting and unique way to give back. Keeping with the theme, Washington secured Hyde Park hot spot The Promontory as a venue sponsor for the sandwich making hub. She has even generated participation from local celebs, including Ryan Henry of VH1’s Black Ink Crew, Miss Jr Teen Illinois United States 2015 Ciara Evans, 106.3 Chicago’s R&B, and Leon Rogers and Kyle Santillian two-thirds of WGCI‘s The Chicago Morning Takeover. Who would have thought you could rub shoulders with celebs while packing lunch?
(Photo Credits: HashTagLunchBagChicago and @Wallstreetbnic.)
3. Volunteer and meet new people
(Photo credit: #HashTagLunchBag.)
Take a break from swiping left…or right, and meet some great people in-person. On any given Saturday, once a month, over 200 volunteers convene to share laughs while making handcrafted sandwiches like mom used to make. The cherry on top are the notes of love which signify the lunches are complete and ready to box and distribute. Volunteers then hit the streets together to spread the love and nourishment to people at local missions or those living without shelter, making for great group outings idea.
4. Invite your friends for Mimosas at The Promontory
If meeting new people is not enough of an incentive for you, tell a few of your friends about #HashTagLunchBag. Get creative about the invite. Ask them to join you for an early afternoon of Giving and Mimosas at The Promontory. The brunch and cocktails are quite delightful!
(Photo credit: #HashTagLunchBag.)
5. Most importantly–help feed fellow Chicagoans
Eating is a common need we all share. The Chicago Food Depository has found 1 in 6 Chicagoans are hungry. We all have an opportunity to get involved with #HashTagLunchBag to help curb and eliminate hunger. Making a donation to the Chicago movement is a welcomed option of support as well. Be sure to follow @HashTagLunchBag on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Social PixPod is proud to support #HashTagLunchBagChicago by sharing smiles, laughs and love at our photo booth as a “Thank You” to the hundreds of volunteers in attendance.