Latest news with #AmazonWishlist
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Queer Joy Alert: Gay TikTok star rallies his followers to feed the hungry
Queer joy is a radical act, so join us each week for more stories that uplift, resist, and shine. For more stories on Queer Joy, click here. Facing empty shelves and worrying about how they were going to feed their community, a Tennessee food pantry was shocked when they found themselves flooded with donations from an unexpected source: TikTok. A week ago, Knox Pride, a LGBTQ+ nonprofit resource center, put out a call on Instagram for donations because their food pantry was 'almost empty' with no way to fill it after their funding was slashed. Luckily, one queer TikTok star saw the post and jumped into action. Social media can feel like a vapid, superficial way to spend your time, but sometimes these apps that have taken over our lives are used to make real positive change in the world. That's true for Matthew Bounds, who is changing lives with his TikTok channel, one charity at a time. Better known as 'Your Barefoot Neighbor,' the 42-year-old gay social media influencer creates simple, easy comfort food recipes for his 1.8 million followers, but on top of his cozy meals, Bound has managed to galvanize his fans, over and over again, to donate to local charities. While killing time waiting in line by scrolling on his phone, Bounds saw Knox Pride's plea for donations and knew he had to act fast. 'I knew they had lost their funding. I knew things were tight for them. I had seen their updates on that, but that post right there just really hit me,' he told PRIDE. Bounds rushed home and recorded a quick TikTok asking his followers to help him fulfill their Amazon Wishlist and stock their pantry shelves, after he had donated a handful of things himself. 'History has shown that the Barefoot Neighborhood does not play when it comes to stuff like this, and ya'll go crazy hard, crazy fast,' Bounds said in the video. #barefootneighborhood Asking his followers — he has approximately 3.5 million across all platforms — to help out nonprofit organizations in desperate need of donations is nothing new, but normally, Bounds carefully plans out any fundraisers he does so when the TikTok video asking for help for Knox Pride didn't get as many views as he was hoping, he worried that very few people would order anything off of the nonprofit's Wishlist. But the next morning, he woke up to a message from Knox Pride's executive director, John Camp, with photos of the trucks full of Amazon packages streaming in. This allowed them to fully stock their food pantry within 24 hours of the video going live. 'They've never let me down,' Bound said of his followers. 'They love a good call, they love to rally and help people. So, I didn't have any doubt that they would come through, I think I was surprised at how big they came through.' Donations continued to flood in over the next week, and soon, Knox Pride had enough food to stock the pantry multiple times over. The fundraiser was so successful that they also received so many monetary donations that they were able to pay their rent through July, and volunteers started showing up in person. They even got enough truckloads of food delivered that Knox Pride was able to reach out to other local resource centers and help them stock their food pantries as well. 'It's a 180 at the center,' Bounds said. 'Not only was it the tangible physical donations, but you know, just a lot of people who may have kind of forgotten they were there or I even got comments from people who live in Knoxville and said they were unaware of Knox Pride and then they saw my video, so now they are donating and they're showing up to volunteer.' An update for the #barefootneighborhood ❤️ Knox Pride provides food to between 75 and 100 people every day at their food pantry so having empty shelves would have been devastating to the community. After the donations started streaming in, Bound began getting DMs from people who were grateful he had stepped up. 'I had someone DM me and he said he's a 55-year-old gay man who's unhoused and the day I posted that video, he had gone there earlier that day and said they fed him with literally some of the last things on the shelves,' Bounds recalled. 'He said, 'I laid down last night and I didn't know where my next meal was going to be coming from because they were out.' And he said, 'I woke up this morning and saw the video and the updates and everything. I'm going to eat today because of your followers,' which was really incredible.' Bounds, who has published one cookbook and has a second one on the way in 2026, has made a name for himself by making easily accessible, comforting southern classics, but he has also built community outreach and fundraising into his platform since the very beginning. In fact, earlier this month, Bounds, who is a Gulfport, Mississippi native, rallied his followers to support a food drive for Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, and was able to completely stock the shelves of their food pantry in less than two weeks. 'My being gay, and then a lot of my audience is part of the LGBTQIA community, and allies and things like that. I think there's almost the spirit of we're here, we're queer, we'll handle it. I think that really rallies us a lot, too. You know, so many people just love to be a part of an inclusive, diverse community that is so committed to helping folks.' The 'vibe' of the community Bounds has created is one that loves good food and is devoted to helping their community, but he thinks people need the positivity in their lives more now than ever before. 'There's so much negativity and awful news, and I don't know about you, but I feel really hopeless a lot of days,' Bound admitted. 'I think there's so many people that just want a little win, and if I can say, 'Hey, here's an Amazon Wishlist, order something off of it, we'll feed someone today,' that's a way for someone to chip in and make the world a little bit better and have a little control over it for a minute. We're not victims of it, we're contributing to some sort of solution."
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wildlife centre needs help to feed 17 rescued fox cubs
A wildlife rescue centre near Swindon is appealing for help to feed a group of fox cubs. RSPCA Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre is based in the Blakehill Nature Reserve in Cricklade. Its team is currently trying to care for 17 newly-rescued animals. A spokesperson said: "That's a lot of mouths to feed and very delicate tummies to support. 'The kicker is that our cubs will only eat Pedigree Puppy Food, which we are running very low on. 'If you can help us feed these cutie patooties, please consider buying a pack of Pedigree Puppy Food from our Amazon Wishlist. 'By purchasing from our Amazon Wishlist, you are not only helping us get important items that we need, but also helping us as a charity save money which we can put towards the bigger costs such as our vet bills, utilities and wildlife ambulances! 'Thank you from us and the cubs.' One of the cubs was admitted after her mother was found dead a few metres away, but she is now doing well following this difficult start to her life. The spokesperson added: 'If you come across a fox cub and you have confirmed that the mother is deceased or has not returned to her cubs for 24 hours, please contact your closest wildlife rescue centre as soon as possible."
Associated Press
22-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Topline Financial Credit Union Members and Employees Give Back to the Local Twin Cities Communities During March Minnesota Foodshare Month
MAPLE GROVE, Minn., April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based member-owned financial services cooperative, held a food drive during the month of March for the MN FoodShare March Campaign benefitting three local non-profits, Community Emergency Assistance Programs (CEAP), Hope 4 Youth and Keystone Community Services. TopLine members and employees generously donated non-perishable food items of canned vegetables, soups, rice, dry pasta, and more to help fight hunger in our local communities. Employees were able to participate by donating non-perishable food items and money in exchange for a 'Foundation Friday/Saturday' sticker, allowing them to wear jeans to work. TopLine and community members could also purchase items from an Amazon Wishlist or Target Registry and have them delivered directly to TopLine, and in return delivered to the charitable partners. When the program ended TopLine employees and members had donated over 574 pounds of food items and $1,155 in cash to assist local individuals and families. 'We frequently receive feedback from our non-profit partners that food supplies decrease during the initial months of the year following a surge in holiday donations,' said Mick Olson, President and CEO of TopLine Financial Credit Union. 'Through the generous contributions of our TopLine family, including members and employees, we aim to alleviate some of the stress associated with food insecurity. By collaborating with other donors, we are optimistic that our collective efforts will strengthen our local communities and provide vital support to those in need of food assistance.' Minnesota FoodShare began its work in 1982 as a campaign advanced by congregations to restock food shelves in the 7-county Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. The effort was so successful, and the need so evident, the March campaign became a statewide initiative just one year later and is now in its 44th year. Minnesota Foodshare March Campaign is the largest grassroots food and fund drive in the state and helps support the capacity of nearly 300 food shelves. Each year, CEAP, Hope 4 Youth and Keystone Community Services participate in the statewide food and fund drive to restock pantry shelves. Community Emergency Assistance Programs (CEAP), serving Hennepin and Anoka Counties, is a community-based, non-profit agency dedicated to providing information, referrals, advocacy and assistance to local communities. Visit to learn more. Hope 4 Youth is a nonprofit organization in Anoka County that helps young people, ages 16-24, who are experiencing homelessness in the northern Twin Cities metro area. To learn more, visit Keystone Community Services is a community-based volunteer organization in St. Paul that helps thousands of low-income individuals and families in the East Metro Area. Keystone's mission is to strengthen the capacity of individuals and families to improve their quality of life. Visit to learn more. TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota's 9th largest credit union, with assets of over $1.1 billion and serves over 70,000 members. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit financial cooperative offers a complete line of financial services from its ten branch locations — in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Circle Pines, Coon Rapids, Forest Lake, Maple Grove, Plymouth, St. Francis and in St. Paul's Como Park — as well as by phone and online at or Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Benton, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties in Minnesota and their immediate family members, as well as employees and retirees of Anoka Hennepin School District #11, Anoka Technical College, Federal Premium Ammunition, Hoffman Enclosures, Inc., GRACO, Inc., and their subsidiaries. Visit us on our Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about the credit union's foundation, visit CONTACT: Vicki Roscoe Erickson Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer TopLine Financial Credit Union [email protected] | 763.391.0872 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Easter for Eli' 2nd annual cornhole tournament benefits children in hospitals
DUNCANSVILLE, Pa. (WTAJ) — On Sunday, 'Easter for Eli' hosted their second annual cornhole tournament to raise money for gifts baskets that will be delivered to children in the hospital. The non-profit organization has been delivering baskets to children for 10 years. This will be their 11th. Easter for Eli was founded in memory of Elias 'Eli' Garrett, a loving 3-year-old boy who lost his battle with Non-Hodgkin's T-cell Lymphoma in 2009. His sister, Kayleigh Garrett, was at the tournament and said it's special to be able to deliver some Easter joy with their dad. 'Just to bring awareness to all of the children that are in the hospital over the Easter holidays, but to their families as well. So I think to be a part of this, and it's bigger than what we are. And so to put the smiles and all those kids' faces really means a lot to me,' Kayleigh said. Prom event raises money for 2025 African American Heritage Festival in Altoona Eli's father, Martin, said they've delivered 78,000 Easter baskets and provided $68,000 in gift cards to families. 'We're continuing to grow, continue to share my son's joy and, you know, bring awareness that so many kids are in the hospital over one holiday. We deliver 10,000 baskets, and that's just a drop in the bucket to what's out there,' Martin said. On Monday, Easter for Eli will start delivering baskets to ensure children receive them in time for the holiday. They plan to start in Pittsburgh and then make stops in Cleveland and Akron. 'It's always a great time to be able to actually go and see the children that we're helping, essentially. You know, we build up year after year. And so to keep this tradition going, it means a lot. And I hope it's around for all the years to come in the future,' Kayleigh said. April 4 is the last day to donate baskets. If you want to donate, the organization requests that you purchase new items and not place any food in the baskets. You can find the list of donations needed here. You can also donate online, using PayPal, Venmo, or their Amazon Wishlist. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
City of Albuquerque Gateway Network making donating easier with Amazon Wishlist
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The city of Albuquerque is making it easier for anyone wanting to help the homeless at the Gateway Network with an Amazon Wishlist highlighting the Gateway Network's needs. Some items the Gateway Center is in need of: Pants Sweat pants T-shirts Underwear Toiletries Storage bins Shelving More items found on the Amazon Wishlist Donations will go to people at Gateway Network, which helps people experiencing homelessness. For anyone who wishes to drop off donations directly can schedule a drop off time, click here. For more information on donating to to the Gateway Network, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
