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Feeding The Hungry With ‘Food Circles’ App

Posted at 8:45 PM, Nov 26, 2013
and last updated 2013-11-26 21:28:10-05

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – With Thanksgiving just two days away, a Grand Rapids man has created a way to feed hungry children through an app and website he launched earlier this month.

Jonathan Kumor created JoinFoodCircles.org, a website and phone app that partners with Grand Rapids restaurants to put food in front of children who would otherwise go hungry. He said this initiative to feed those in need and work towards ending hunger comes from his own experience as a child.

“I grew up on food stamps and I always remembered what that was like,” Kumor said.”So, I thought that there might be a way to leverage me and my friends dining, our decision to go out and eat at a restaurant, that maybe every time I ate a portion of that could go toward someone who couldn’t afford to eat at a restaurant.”

The success of the organization is based on a community effort. Participating restaurants offer vouchers that can be purchased from the website or the phone app. For ever dollar you spend a dollar goes to either Kids Food Basket or World Vision; the choice is yours. And, by helping feed hungry kids, you’re also getting a good deal. For instance, Red Jet Cafe, offers an $8 appetizer for just $1.

Shuan Wooden,  Chef and General Manager at the cafe, said he hopes other restaurants join in the movement.

“I have kids of my own and so I think about other who may not be as fortunate as my family is or other families and we need to help where we can and do whatever little bit we can to help people,” said Wooden.