Taylor Swift Donates to Food Banks During Eras Tour
New York, CNN – When the Arizona Food Bank Network received a call that Taylor Swift wanted to make a hefty donation to the charity as she kicked off her Eras tour in the state, some staffers thought it was a prank. But it turns out, it was no joke.
The megastar, who is raking in big bucks from her blockbuster concerts, has been giving back to communities where she plays. From Georgia to Michigan to Texas to California and everywhere in between, food banks have benefited from Swift’s generosity.
In Arizona, Swift’s donation in March allowed the network to send several tractor-trailers filled with 40,000 pounds of fresh produce to its member food banks. It also bolstered funding for programs aimed at combating hunger, such as helping eligible children gain access to free and reduced-price school meals, and assisting senior citizens in obtaining food stamps. Terri Shoemaker, a spokesperson at the nonprofit organization, said, “Taylor Swift’s donation certainly helped at a time when we’re seeing the need climb and climb and climb.”
This donation comes at a crucial time for food banks around the country, as they are contending with increased demand, higher costs, and tighter supplies of donated food. Last year, about one in six people turned to hunger relief programs for support, according to Feeding America, a national network of food banks. Many food banks have seen an increase in need in 2023, driven in part by the end of a pandemic enhancement to food stamps earlier this year.
Seattle-based Food Lifeline, another beneficiary of Swift’s donation, plans to use the funds to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as food popular in ethnic communities. Mark Coleman, a spokesperson for Food Lifeline, explained that the nonprofit organization has had to purchase a lot more groceries since the amount of donated food has plummeted during the Covid-19 pandemic. This comes at a time when monetary contributions have fallen back to pre-pandemic levels. Despite these challenges, Food Lifeline now provides 280,000 meals a day and serves 1.1 million people, up from 125,000 meals and between 600,000 and 700,000 people prior to the pandemic.
The size of Swift’s gifts to these food banks has not been disclosed, and her representative did not comment on the matter. However, the donations not only help the food banks buy more groceries, but they also bring attention to the issue of food insecurity in the United States.
For example, after Swift’s donation to Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, the food bank saw a 43% increase in contributions compared to the same period the previous year. Shobana Gubbi, the chief philanthropy officer of Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, stated, “It is really meaningful to get a gift from someone who, like Taylor Swift, has the ability to bring so much attention to our cause and to the work that we’re doing.”
Three Square Food Bank, which serves Las Vegas and southern Nevada, also experienced an uptick in donations and interest in its mission after Swift’s generosity during the tour. Beth Martino, CEO of the nonprofit group, expressed her gratitude, saying, “It is really meaningful to get a gift from someone who, like Taylor Swift, has the ability to bring so much attention to our cause and to the work that we’re doing.” Last year, Three Square Food Bank served nearly 36 million meals through its network of community partners.
Overall, Taylor Swift’s donations to food banks during her Eras tour not only provide much-needed support to these organizations but also raise awareness about the issue of food insecurity in the United States. As the pandemic continues to impact communities across the country, these charitable acts serve as a reminder of the importance of helping those in need.