Love Food Give Food, the campaign which invites diners to add just £1 to their bill to contribute to Action Against Hunger UK’s life-saving humanitarian work, has returned in September for the 12th year.
In 2023, 174 restaurants are taking part in the Love Food Give Food campaign, which will take place from September to October, including Hawksmoor, Shoryu Ramen, Hakkasan and Darjeeling Express. Since the campaign’s inception in 2011, Love Food Give Food has raised over £3.5 million, while this year Action Against Hunger is hoping to raise over £200,000. A full list of participating restaurants can be found here.
Jean-Michel Grand, Action Against Hunger UK’s Executive Director, said this: “As we launch the 12th edition of the Love Food Give Food campaign, we invite diners to make a profound impact with a simple gesture – by adding just £1 to their bill. This autumn, restaurant-goers can turn each meal into an opportunity to combat hunger and save lives.”
Action Against Hunger is fighting hunger and malnutrition in 55 countries around the world, providing relief to communities affected by natural disasters, supporting people in conflict zones, and helping communities to adapt to climate change. Just £1 from diners’ bills can help Action Against Hunger provide life-saving therapeutic food.
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report by the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization has said hunger levels have risen sharply last year in Western Asia, the Caribbean and subregions of Africa, with the overall number of people suffering from hunger having risen by 122 million to 725 million since 2019, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, climate change and economic uncertainty. Furthermore, 2.4 billion people did not have full access to nutritious food in 2022.
Approximately 4 million children still need humanitarian assistance in Turkey and Syria, as both countries still face significant challenges from the devastating earthquakes that struck six months ago. Around 43,000 people are thought to have died in 2022 as a result of a drought last year in Somalia, while 20.3 million people are estimated to have insufficient access to food in Sudan as a result of conflict and economic collapse.
“Love Food Give Food is one of the high points of our year,” said Will Beckett, co-founder of Hawksmoor restaurants. “Part of the reason we’re in business is to be able to make a difference in ways like this, and I hope it’s also part of why staff and customers have grown to love Hawksmoor.”
Action Against Hunger UK is continuing to welcome new restaurants to join our campaign. If you are a restaurant eager to participate, let us know by reaching out to LoveFoodGiveFood@actionagainsthunger.org.uk.