Social Media Feeds Hungry Central Texans

Ed Nicholson & David Davenport

You may remember that a couple weeks ago, Tyson Foods pledged to the Capital Area Food Bank 100 pounds of food for every comment left on the company’s hunger relief blog. http://hungerrelief.tyson.com/

We turned to our Web friends for help. We posted the challenge on Twitter, Facebook and our blog. You tweeted about it and added the challenge to your Facebook pages and blogs. So did your friends.

Once the word spread on social networking sites, the blog surpassed the 350 comments needed to fill the truck within six hours, and continued to receive more than 640 comments!

On Monday, Tyson Foods delivered the truckload of food, and pledged to donate another truckload of food in recognition of the more than 640 comments received. Special thanks to Ed Nicholson of Tyson Foods, and Mike Chapman and David Neff of the 501 Tech Club and Social Media Club Austin, for helping make this opportunity possible. And of course, thank you all for raising 70,000 pounds of food for hungry Central Texans.

Yesterday, Ed added this video he shot at his visit to the Food Bank to the Tyson blog. View photos of this event on flickr.com.

 

HAM-up Update

HAM-up Tweet-up

We have some new HAM-up details to share. Thanks to the generosity of the Austin community, we invite you to participate in:

Tyson Foods “Gift of Protein” Delivery and Presentation
Monday, September 8
10:00 a.m.
Capital Area Food Bank, 8201 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78745 map

Thanks to your comments to the Tyson Foods Hunger Relief Blog, Tyson Foods will deliver 35,000 pounds of much-needed protein items to the Food Bank. We invite you to attend the “Gift of Protein” media event at the Food Bank and learn how the social media community made a difference in the lives of hungry Central Texans.

HAM-up Grill-up Happy Hour Kickoff
Thursday, September 11
5:30 – 8 p.m.
Whole Foods Market, 525 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78701 map

Help kick-off the HAM-up. Listen to the sounds of Gina Chavez and her band while enjoying grilled items prepared by Whole Foods chefs. $3 pints of Live Oak Hefeweizen on tap, and other beer specials as well. Proceeds from the sale of grilled items benefit the Food Bank. Have a photo taken of you holding your own “Hunger is Unacceptable” sign. Learn more about HAM-up events we have scheduled for Saturday, September 13. RSVP online.

HAM-up Tweet-up
Saturday, September 13
Noon – 4 p.m.
Capital Area Food Bank, 8201 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78745 map

In addition to the “Food Drive Drive Through”, Food Bank tours, and volunteering in product recovery, you can join the Stalelife and Adomatica Bike Ride Food Drive.

Help nourish hungry Central Texans while laying down less of a carbon footprint! Stalelife and Adomatica will transport food and financial donations via bicycle straight to the Food Bank. The convoy will leave from Burnet Road and Justin Lane area and pick up any donations (and riders) between the highways on the way to the Food Bank. If you live East of I35 or West of MOPAC and can collect in your area, join the convoy! To schedule a pickup, please email Joe at HAMup@stalelife.com.

No Show Ponies are donating their musical talents to keep the spirit of giving fun as you participate in HAM-up events at the Food Bank. Brothers Jeff and Ben Brown create music inspired by the best aspects of rock and roll. The energy of Elvis, the truth-telling lyricism of Dylan and Leonard Cohen, the operatic vocals of Roy Orbison, the swagger of Motown, the irreverence of Paul Westerberg, the unique vision and integrity of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Morrissey, and U2–all of these qualities are present in the songs of No Show Ponies.

No open-toe shoes

Just a reminder, if you’re planning on touring the Food Bank, or to volunteer in product recovery, we require all guests to wear closed toed shoes. It’s for your safety, Thank you!

Please, don’t forget to RSVP for the HAM-up Grill-up happy hour and sign up to volunteer in product recovery. See you next week!