The fine jewelry community has united for an online campaign, #Linked, to help feed U.S. youths left vulnerable after nationwide school closings due to coronavirus concerns.
“Nearly 22 million low-income kids from communities across the country rely on the free and reduced-price meals they receive at school,” according to Share Our Strength, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that works to solve hunger and poverty around the world.
The organization runs No Kid Hungry, a national program focused on feeding children in need, and is currently supporting the U.S. Department of Agriculture in providing “flexibility in how kids access meals during this time and for Congress to make sure [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which supplies nutrition benefits so those in need can buy healthy foods] is maximized for struggling families.”
Alison Lou, Marlo Laz, Irene Neuwirth, Ana Khouri, Jenna Blake, Deborah Pagani, Andrea Fohrman, Sarah Hendler, Maya Brenner and Jacquie Aiche are among the growing number of more than 40 fine jewelry designers, from New York City to Los Angeles, who have come together to help fund the initiative by donating a portion of their sales to the cause.
“There were no parameters, it was just a call to action,” said public relations agency founders Danielle Gadi of Danielle Gadi PR and Jen Lowitz of IHPR in a joint statement. “We’ve seen everything from a flat figure to 30 percent off. Most designers are offering up their full collections as part of this effort. If this effort creates some additional visibility around the urgency of the situation, we’re thrilled with whatever anyone can do, however they want to do it.”
