The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted individuals and families, especially those who rely on relief programs. A report by the U.N. World Food Programme says the number of people around the globe facing severe food insecurity or a food crisis could nearly double to 270 million people by the end of 2020.
According to the California Milk Processor Board, creator of the popular Got Milk? campaign, 4.2 million people in the state are facing hunger and that number is only growing.
Actor Matt Bomer says he felt driven to help. Now he is involved in a new campaign by the California Milk Processor Board, which is donating $1 to Feeding America for every Instagram post that features an act of kindness and is tagged with #FoodForThought and @gotmilk.
"Like all of us, in the midst of all the chaos going on, I was wondering, 'What can I do to give back? How can I help?' And this is such a user-friendly initiative," Matt Bomer told Cheddar Tuesday. "In the time it takes to take a selfie, you tag @gotmilk with an act of kindness, something that just encourages you to give back to your own community through an act of kindness, that's going to feed 10 people in need right now"
The California Milk Processor Board and the California Milk Advisory Board, representing California dairy farm families, teamed up with Feeding America to help provide one million meals and one million servings of milk through the launch of #FoodForThought initiative.
The Instagram campaign will be going on through September 30. The California Milk Processor Board has pledged a minimum of $25,000 and will donate up to $100,000, which it says is enough to provide a million meals.
The TV and film star, known for his work on shows like USA's The Sinner, shadowed veteran volunteers to get a closer look at the impactful work happening at Feeding America member food banks.
"It was amazing to get to meet the workers who are out there every day, risking their lives, to make sure people are fed and to get to laugh with them and interact with them and see how it all goes down," Bomer said. "I already committed to coming back for the holidays."
There are many ways to give back right now and ways to demonstrate small acts of kindness. Bomer offered some suggestions, such as making a batch of cookies for neighbors, holding the door open for someone else, or helping someone out with their groceries.
On top of his recent volunteer work, the actor also has a new project coming out on Netflix. The stage play The Boys in the Band is getting a revamp for the small screen, and the full cast of the Joe Mantello-helmed Broadway production is reprising their roles in the upcoming film.
"I mean it's unheard of that you get to do the film version of a play with the exact same cast and the same director that you got to work with. We loved each other. We had such an incredible experience on stage and so to get to translate all that work to a new medium was amazing," Bomer said.
The drama follows a group of gay men who get together in New York City to celebrate a birthday. However, the evening takes a turn when the host's potentially closeted college roommate arrives at the gathering. 'The Boys in the Band' is scheduled to start streaming September 30.
