Support City Harvest in the Fight Against Hunger

City Harvest has a really cool initiative going on to help drive donations using QR codes that I wanted to share with you.  If your not familiar with City Harvest they are the world’s first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding the city’s hungry men, women, and children.  Right now you can show your support by downloading a VERY COOL application called “ScanLife” on your smart phone devices in order to scan the code.  The QR code is similar to a bar code that gives you immediate access to City Harvest content allowing you to connect to the City Harvest website, read facts about City Harvest, view a video illustrating City Harvest’s work, and make a donation online to fight against hunger.

With demand for emergency food remaining at record high levels, City Harvest is reaching donors with an innovative advertising campaign that uses technology commonly used by for-profit marketers but new to fundraisers. On advertisements in print, phone kiosks, transit shelters, and on Facebook, City Harvest has incorporated a QR code, which functions like a barcode and can be scanned by mobile phones.

This cutting edge technology offers donors the highest level of flexibility. Cell phone users that scan the QR code will immediately have the option to go to the City Harvest website, read facts about City Harvest, view a video illustrating City Harvest’s work, and make a donation online or by clicking a button to call City Harvest directly. Donors can choose the amount they wish to donate and get more information about City Harvest at the touch of a button.

The new QR codes can be found on City Harvest’s new advertising campaign featuring New York City residents that have taken action to fight hunger. Though the food City Harvest rescues and delivers is donated, City Harvest needs cash donations to maintain their trucks and their staff that is essential to picking up and distributing food. The advertisements demonstrate the impact of donors who pull out their wallet or checkbook in helping City Harvest feed more hungry New Yorkers.

“In an era of mobile technology, potential donors want and expect to be able to act immediately,” said Jilly Stephens, executive director of City Harvest. “QR codes allow New Yorkers just learning about City Harvest to get more information quickly and easily as well as give.”

“QR codes are changing the future of donor-charity relationships. They allow non-profits to interact with their donors by exchanging engaging content,” said Irina Skaya, Marketing Manager at Horizon Media. “Unlike SMS giving, QR codes alleviate high monthly running costs and do not limit the dollar amount donors give to the nonprofit.”

Despite indicators that the recesssion has ended, agencies served by City Harvest have reported no decrease in the need for emergency food since demand spiked last year. City Harvest works to meet greater need at soup kitchens and food pantries by rescuing and delivering food to some 600 programs throughout the five boroughs. Currently, City Harvest helps feed over 300,000 hungry men, women, and children each week.

This is a wonderful organization and does so much good for the great city of New York. 

FTC Disclosure

I have not received any compensation for posting this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are mentioned herein. 

Rosemary