Hashtag for a cause with Drink Good. Do Good.
Believe it or not, not everyone in our country has access to all the wonderful fresh fruits, veggies, cold-pressed juices and organic grass-fed fare that many of us can pick up with ease. In fact, not everyone in our own cities even has that access.
While it can be easy to carry on in a healthy-living, fitness-loving, happy-go-lucky “la-la-land” all the time (especially if you read blogs … am I right?), we have to remember that there are people and populations out there with bigger problems. Real problems. And I must admit, oftentimes I get so wrapped up in my own little bubble, that I forget how good I have it. How about you?
Today, as a Naked Juice Ambassador, I’m sharing information on a campaign by Naked Juice, aimed at getting fresh fruits and veggies into the hands of our neighbors in need, which you can support if you’re interested, simply by sharing a photo on social media with a hashtag. Read on for more …
You know what they say about an apple-a-day …
What is a food desert and why should you care?
Yes, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, which is an area very well-known for its culinary scene, innovative technology and expensive rent (don’t get me started on that point). But there are people here within our community, who are living in certain areas where their only options for food are neighborhood corner stores, where packaged food, alcohol and cigarettes line the shelves. They don’t have healthy and affordable options available for purchase.
Those areas, which can be in urban or rural environments, are called food deserts, and in those food deserts, people are more likely to be unhealthy, obese and living in poverty. Food deserts occur all over the world, and there are nearly 24 million Americans living in them, who just don’t have access to the healthy foods they need. It’s a big problem, and one that should not go unnoticed.
Introducing the Drink Good. Do Good. campaign by Naked Juice
For the third year, Naked Juice is partnering with Wholesome Wave – a non-profit organization that helps create affordable access to fresh, local and regional food to people in food deserts – to provide even more fresh produce where there is none, in a campaign called Drink Good. Do Good. Wholesome Wave, which was started by a chef, manages several initiatives, including supporting small farmers and helping to build infrastructure to get locally grown food to underserved communities.
Because Naked Juice products are known to be full of delicious fruits and veggies, they want to give back a little bit of that to those who aren’t fortunate enough to have any in their lives. You can check out more about the campaign on the website and even see that the very-hunky Adrian Grenier has joined the fun as a spokesperson in several videos, while walking the streets of his community in New York City. Pretty cool stuff.
Naked Juice is taking this campaign to the streets and is doing a few events across the nation. You can find out if an event is coming near you on the site as well, and for my friends in the Bay Area, September is full of appearances, including the Sausalito Art Festival, The Bay Area Blues Festival and the Urban Air Market.
How you can help raise awareness about food deserts
Naked Juice is hoping to donate up to 500,000 pounds worth of fruits and vegetables to Wholesome Wave by October 1, 2015, and they’re calling on us to help spread the word. New to the campaign this year, Naked Juice is making it easy for more people to get involved just by taking a photo holding a piece of fruit or a vegetable, using the #DrinkGoodDoGood hashtag and tagging a friend. Every time you do that, Naked Juice will donate the monetary equivalent of 10 pounds of produce to Wholesome Wave. And they’ll keep going until they max out at 500,000 pounds total. A pretty big goal and one that I hope they can reach.
Be thankful for your fruits and veggies
I really appreciate you letting me share this campaign with you today, because it got me thinking a little bit more about the world. We should all take a moment and be appreciative for all we have in our lives right now. Yes, we all have challenges that we must face day in and day out, but we also all have things we can be thankful for. So grab your fresh fruit and veggies and say “cheese”! And if you choose to share a photo on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, please tag me. I’d love to see it! Thanks for reading, and have a fabulous day!
Share a photo of fruits and veggies with #DrinkGoodDoGood to get fresh produce to those in need ... Click To Tweet**As a Naked Juice Ambassador, please know that this post is sponsored by the brand. However, all of the thoughts and opinions are my own. I have no problem promoting good causes like this, and as always, I thank you for supporting my sponsors.
Questions of the day
What is one charity or cause that you support?
Do you know if you live near a food desert?
What’s your favorite fruit or veggie?
This topic is so passionate to me! A lot of healthy living bloggers tend to focus on the positives of organic foods which is great, don’t get me wrong, BUT the bigger issue in our country is getting any type of produce to those who have less. I worked for a sustainable agriculture nonprofit during my MBA and completed a project on food deserts. Coming from Chicago, it was sad to see a city suffer from a lack of good quality food when there was a McDonalds on every corner. But I can see it here in Naples too. The less well off parts of town don’t have the grocery stores or the restaurants, they have the convenience stores that definitely do not offer produce! Okay, lots of thoughts today – great post! I’ll definitely be using the hashtag 🙂
Hi Becky! Wow! So you have definitely researched this in-depth with your school project. And I know, cheap food is usually the least healthy. It’s so easy to forget that there are people not as fortunate as us. I’m glad I was able to write this post and also glad that you are so passionate about it! Thanks! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this post, it’s a great reminder to be thankful for the food access that we have for sure! one charity I’ve always been passionate about is the humane society !
Hi Marielle! Yes, ma’am! Another one that I appreciate even more now that I’m a pet owner. 🙂 I would love to spend more time doing charity work and sure hope to do that one day soon. Be thankful today!
This makes me so happy. The amount of homeless and less fortunate people in Phoenix makes me really sad and they are everywhere. I love what Naked Juice is doing. I will be happy to take pics and post with their hashtags. Now I just have to remember!
Hi Megan! I really appreciate your support. And it’s good that you are aware of the issues facing your area and can think of ways to help in the future too! Have a great day!
What a great cause! I live in chicago and am a teacher in the public schools. Many of my kids don’t have access to fresh fruits and veggies, and their main source of nutrition is from the school breakfast and lunch. I wish there were a way I could give them all fresh fruits and veggies everyday!
Hi Julia! Oh man, so yes, you deal with this first-hand, clearly. It must be very hard to not want to give everything you have to your students. At least they are getting good food at school, right?
This sounds like such a great cause! I love that Naked Juice is not only bringing awareness to this problem, but also working to find a solution. Awesome post Ashley!
I hope you have a great day!
Thanks, Heather! I love it when a company offers to give back to causes that are in line with their mission and products. Seems like this is the perfect fit for Naked Juice! 🙂 Have a great day!
This was such a great post Ashley! I’m really glad you brought this issue up, and using your position as a Naked ambassador to talk about it.
The main charity that I support is my local Humane Society. I volunteer there as a dog walker and also raise money every year at the annual holiday gift wrapping! It’s so much fun and one day of the year my entire work team comes out to help. It’s always the highlight of my Christmas season 🙂
Hi Gretchen! Yes, I know you are a dog-walker, and I love that you do that. It’s important to give back a little, so major props to you for doing that! Glad you enjoyed this post. Have a great day!
Great Cause and great post sweet Ashley! Thank you!
Thank you so much for reading it! Have an awesome day! 🙂
I always support Wounded Warrior Project whenever I have the chance. I’ve also run for ASPCA as well as Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Best veggie = brussels sprouts. Best fruit = banana or grapefruit 🙂
Hi Jamie! Busy girl! So glad that you’re involved in your local community giving back. And I’m on team BANANA for sure. 🙂 But apples are a close second. Happy Thursday!
Great post and a great cause Ashley! Thanks for sharing. There are far too many people out there without good food or even water and it’s great Naked juice (and you and Adrian Grenier) are here to help!
Hi Bethann, Celebrities joining the cause is always a good thing, right? Happy Thursday, lady!
Wow what a cool idea! #hashtagsforgoodcauses…. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Emma! I like your hashtag too! ahhaha! Thanks! 🙂 Happy Thursday!
Thank you so much for spreading the word about this project, Ashley! Food deserts are a serious problem–we know how important eating healthy foods is to maintaining good overall health, and it’s tough when they’re not readily accessible. Love that Naked Juice is creating this campaign to help!
Hi Beth! I know, it’s so easy to forget that healthy food isn’t available everywhere. I appreciate that you shared this one too! Have a great day, lady! 🙂
What a great cause! I first heard the phrase food desert only a year or two ago when I was reading a blog following the journey of two girls cycling across the US (wish I could find that link! It was amazing!). They encountered many food deserts in their journey.
Cancer and children’s hospitals (currently fundraising for CMNH for the Princess Half Marathon) are causes that are close to my heart. I had a friend from high school pass away from leukemia.
Oh no, Breanne. I’m sorry to hear that. It’s good that you’ve found an organization to support though. And yes, the food deserts are everywhere. Hoping this campaign helps more people to support programs that aid food deserts. Have a great day, lady! 🙂
Wow, this is such an awesome cause, Ashley! I can’t imagine what it must be like to live somewhere and not have access to fresh produce. I’m glad that Wholesome Wave and Naked Juice are taking the initiative to do something about it and I will definitely help out by using the hashtag!