GiftAMeal Activates Disaster Relief Program in Support of Los Angeles
Relief Program to Match Food Donations and Expand Aid for Los Angeles Residents Affected by Wildfires
St. Louis, MO (January 9, 2025) — In response to the ongoing devastation caused by multiple fires throughout Los Angeles County, GiftAMeal is activating its disaster relief initiative to provide urgent support for the communities most affected by the fires by doubling the number of meals donated in Los Angeles. Additionally, any Los Angeles area restaurant that signs up for GiftAMeal in January will receive their first month free. Through this program, customers at participating restaurants can help support the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank by simply taking a photo of their food or drink through the GiftAMeal app. For each photo taken, a meal is donated locally.
"This disaster hits close to home for me – I’m from Los Angeles and have family members who have been directly impacted by the fires,” says Andrew Glantz, Founder of GiftAMeal. “At GiftAMeal, we believe in the power of communities uniting to support one another during times of crisis. Our disaster relief efforts in Los Angeles are focused on addressing the immediate food insecurity challenges caused by the fires. By partnering with local restaurants to support the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, we can ensure that meals reach those in need, providing hope and relief to our neighbors during this difficult time.”
GiftAMeal extends an open invitation to all restaurants in the region to join the effort; matching donations for all Los Angeles-area restaurants that join the program for the entire month of January. Any Los Angeles area restaurant that signs up for GiftAMeal in January will receive their first month free. Limit of 1 location per restaurant brand. By participating, these restaurants not only help their communities recover but also gain the opportunity to show solidarity in this time of crisis.
Additionally, any restaurant in the United States currently partnered with GiftAMeal or any new restaurant that joins can choose to direct their meal donations to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank for the entire month.
Los Angeles area restaurants currently participating in the GiftAMeal program include Starbird, Health Nut, Gong Cha, Guzzu Bento-ya!, and Tapioca Express.
*For restaurants interested in joining the initiative, go to giftameal.com/relief.
For a complete list of participating restaurants, download the free GiftAMeal app (giftameal.com/download).
How It Works
When dining at a participating restaurant, guests simply select the restaurant on the free GiftAMeal app and snap a photo of their food or drink. For each photo shared, GiftAMeal donates to a local food bank, with funds going directly toward meals for families affected by the fires. Guests are then invited to share their photo on social media, and an extra meal is provided for each platform selected. With its relief initiative, GiftAMeal will double its January donations for any Los Angeles region restaurant’s involvement.
GiftAMeal has been a long-standing partner to food banks and local businesses, using its innovative platform to deliver over 2 million meals since its inception. With its relief program launch, GiftAMeal is committed to delivering impactful, community-driven solutions to tackle hunger and aid in disaster relief efforts.
PRESS KITFor more information visit www.giftameal.com
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About GiftAMeal
Founded in 2015, GiftAMeal helps provide a meal to a family in need in a restaurant’s local community every time a guest takes a photo of their order from a partner restaurant. Through over 1,000 established restaurant partnerships, the GiftAMeal program has helped provide over 2 million meals to those in need across 39 states — one smile at a time. GiftAMeal received the Industry Hero Award by Hospitality Technology in 2023, and earned 1st Place in the Global Impact Awards.
Madeleine Nasch