My passion for Plumpy’nut began during my sophomore year of high school. While flipping through CosmoGirl magazine, I was expecting to find the latest style tips, not a life-changing article. However, an article about an opportunity for American teens to serve on a mission trip to Africa captured my attention. Immediately after reading, I was desperate to go. Unfortunately, the timing wasn’t right and traveling halfway around the globe wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. However, I was already immersed in reading about Africa – the culture, the people, the food, the kids, and the crises. More than anything, the tragic statistics of and photos depicting the victims of childhood malnutrition stuck in my mind. Even though I couldn’t travel to Africa, I wanted to do something at home to help. That’s when I found out about Plumpy’nut.
After reading about this innovative tool to fight hunger, I found my cause and plans for the 1st Annual Walk for Plumpy’nut began. Thanks to the help of family and friends (the self-proclaimed “Plumpy’nut fanatics”), and the York, Pennsylvania community, we raised over $5,000 to purchase Plumpy’nut for children in Ethiopia. Because of the first walk’s success, I founded a nonprofit called Food for Thought, Inc. to expand upon the walk’s efforts. To date, Food for Thought has raised over $15,000 to feed children in Ethiopia! I knew that Plumpy’nut was capable of saving lives, but I never realized how much it would change mine.
I found that in three years of fundraising, I was still surprised when I talked to someone who had heard of Plumpy’nut. Now I realize that I need to turn this surprise into action by spreading the word about this lifesaving food. While Plumpy’nut is only a temporary solution to a global crisis, it is still a huge and essential step forward. We have the ability to end hunger. We can’t afford to continue to lose generations of children to preventable causes – it is time to change the world one tiny belly at a time.
If you want to learn more about the Walk for Plumpy’nut, send me an e-mail at icfoodforthought@gmail.com or visit our website!
Thank you for reading!
Plumpy'nut Press 
Posted by Tammy on June 28, 2010 at 6:51 pm
The CosmoGirl team would be proud that an article of theirs sparked your curiosity and set you on this path – I certainly am so proud of you and awed by your devotion to the cause! Let’s do it – one belly at a time!
Posted by filippo on September 14, 2010 at 11:51 am
I would like to receive continous updates from this blog, please. Thanks. fil
filippo.dibari@gmail.com
Posted by Amy Deptford on May 31, 2011 at 8:32 am
My name is Amy Deptford and I am a MSc student studying International Public Health Nutrition at the University of Westminster in London. I am in the process of recruiting for my dissertation, which is an investigation into the impact of ready-to-use therapeutic foods.
I require participants who have had experience with the product either at a practical, policy or technical level to undertake a 1 hour semi-structured interview in June via Skype. During the interview my participants will be required to use their previous experiences with RUTF to discuss its positive, negative, intended and unintended impacts on the social, economic, developmental and environmental indicators of an area where it has been implemented.
If you are, or you know of anyone who maybe interested in participating please do not hesitate to get in contact with me at amy.deptford@my.westminster.ac.uk. Alternatively, if you do not have the time to spare for a hours interview, please could you fill in the attached questionnaire. It will only take you between 5-10 minutes.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TFNJZRM
Kind Regards
Amy Deptford
Posted by Nasha on November 14, 2011 at 2:30 am
Hiya, I’m a student at Calderstone Middle School in Brampton, Ontario. My class and I read an article about a child who was very close to death, gain weight with the help of Plumpy’Nut. We are very interested in raising money for children who need it most. In the article, it was written that if 11$ were given we would be able to but a Plumpy’Nut package. I’m not really sure, but what do I need to know in order to send the money?
Posted by Elizabeth Stoltz on November 14, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Hi Nasha! That’s wonderful that your class learned about Plumpy’nut and is interested in making a donation! I would recommend sending your donation to Concern Worldwide; you can learn more about ways to donate to them here: http://www.concernusa.org/Public/WaysToDonate.aspx Just specify that your donation is for Plumpy’nut. Thanks so much for reading!
Posted by Nasha on November 14, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Thanks so much!
Posted by Nasha on November 14, 2011 at 2:31 am
I meant the word ‘buy’ not ‘but’.