A global community of Internet users and culinary devotees has raised almost $31,000 in little more than a week to help the United Nations World Food Programme provide meals to some of the hungriest and poorest people.
Three years ago, Pim Techamuanvivit, a renowned US blogger on restaurants, devised the Menu for Hope auction programme where foodies around the world can buy 10 dollar tickets to bid on items ranging from complimentary meals at top restaurants to rare cookery books to baskets of unusual gastronomic items.
All proceeds from the auction are being given to the WFP.
This year's target of $25,000 has already been exceeded, with the total reaching $30,986.70 as of 0245 IST on Wednesday.
This year's Menu for Hope, which began on December 10, is scheduled to keep running through Friday.
Last year, the project had raised $17,000 to help the UN Children's Fund.
Techamuanvivit said one of the key reasons for the success this year has been that so many donors value the work of the WFP. "The opportunity to help the world's hungry galvanises this community of people who share a passion for food," she said.
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