Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Plumpy'nut Meets Milk Carton

Loyal P.B. and Jers, this is a very special comic, because we're halfway to our total goal! Plumpy'nut and I can't thank you all enough for helping us reach this point-- and reach ten children already!

In our last comic, we learned more about RUTFs. But before RUTFs, there was therapeutic milk: revolutionary milk formulas that contain a combination of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins that are essential for helping malnourished children regain their health. These formulas (called F-75 and F-100) slashed mortality rates from malnutrition by record numbers. Building on the success of therapeutic milk formulas, scientists developed RUTFs, which had the same basic ingredients but didn't require clean water, preparation, or long hospital stays.

Now, when a child visits a health center for nutrition treatment, she gets fed therapeutic milk until she's stable enough for RUTFs. So, as Plumpy'nut will tell you in this week's comic, they work together a lot to save lives. And you're helping them do just that!
 

Thanks to your support, we've already raised enough to save ten malnourished children, and we're well on our way to saving ten more!

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Grandma Peanut Brittle Greets Plumpy'nut

Hello again, loyal P.B. and Jers! You've helped us reach another goal, so you get another comic! And you also get a bit more information about your new friend Plumpy'nut.

One of the most revolutionary things about ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) is that they're easy to store and transport. Before RUTFs, malnourished children were treated with therapeutic milk (which we'll learn more about in the next installment.) The milk formula was effective, but only for children who were treated in hospitals or health centers. That meant that children who lived in areas where there were no hospitals, or areas where the hospitals were too crowded, couldn't get the lifesaving treatment they needed.

Easily packaged, shipped, and administered, RUTFs expanded malnutrition treatment from hospitals to communities and family homes-- even in remote areas where children would otherwise not have access to healthcare. Of course, Action Against Hunger still works with and supports local health centers, but RUTFs allow treatment for malnutrition to continue outside health facilities.

Home treatment not only opens doors for more children to get care, but it also makes a child's recovery process easier for her family. With RUTFs, caretakers can treat their malnourished child at home while still tending to other responsibilities, like farms, livestock, businesses, and other family members.

Now that you know how important it is for Plumpy'nut to be transported to homes across the world, I want to thank you again for helping him get there. (And Grandma Peanut Brittle will thank you, too. . . as long as he gets to his destination safely.)

 

Plumpy'nut will be back tomorrow to share the next part of his journey with you!

Friday, April 18, 2014

Plumpy'nut Meets X-Treme Crunchy

And we're back again, P.B. and Jers, because you all continue to be awesome and supportive. You've helped Plumpy'nut reach his second goal! So you know what that means: you get the next comic.

In this comic, we'll learn a little bit more about how Plumpy'nut works. Severely malnourished children have trouble processing complex foods, but ready-to-use therapeutic foods are easy to digest and contain a balance of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and vitamins. So they're full of energy and nutrients to help children recover from malnutrition. Which is exactly what sick children need... but maybe not exactly what X-Treme Crunchy P.B. is looking for:
  Looks like Plumpy'nut and X-treme Crunchy are taking action, and you can too! And stay tuned for the next installment of Plumpy'nut's quest to save 20 children from hunger.

Thanks again for all your support, P.B. and Jers!

Thursday, April 17, 2014

P.B. and Jane Help Plumpy'nut

Hi, loyal P.B. and Jers! Wow, you've already helped Plumpy'nut exceed his first goal! Which means you're already getting your next comic.

But before we get to that, I want to answer a couple questions I've gotten so far about the campaign, Plumpy'nut, and lifesaving nutrition treatment.

Q: What is Plumpy'nut?
A: As my campaign goes on, you'll learn a bit more about Plumpy'nut with each new comic. But here's a preview: Plumpy'nut is a peanut butter-based, nutrient-dense ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), which means it's specially formulated to help children recover from severe malnutrition. RUTFs require no clean water, refrigeration, or preparation (hence "ready-to-use"), which makes it easier for kids to receive treatment at home, even in remote areas. RUTFs are revolutionary: they've saved millions of kids. Now, we can save twenty more. Want to learn more about lifesaving nutrition? Watch this amazing video.

Q: Why 45? What does $45 pay for?
A: Why 45? Because you can save a life in just 45 days for just $45. $45 can pay for a full course of lifesaving nutrition treatment for a severely malnourished child: three packets of Plumpy'nut a day for 45 days.

Q: So $45 pays for nutrition treatment. What happens after children finish with the treatment?
A: After a child receives nutrition treatment and regains her health, Action Against Hunger also works with her family and community to make sure she stays healthy. We support local health centers so she can get regular check-ups. We teach classes on cooking and childcare. And beyond nutrition, we install and repair safe water points, promote healthy hygiene habits,help farmers grow healthier crops, support small businesses and local markets, and so much more--all of which helps to fight hunger.

Q: I want to donate, but I can't give $45. What can I give?
A: As Plumpy'nut himself is about to tell you, just $1 is enough to provide a day's worth of Plumpy'nut for a child in need. So any amount you can give is going to make a difference. For real! And if you can't spare the cash, you can be generous with your sharing: share this comic on Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, etc. (And follow Action Against Hunger if you want, too.)

Okay, now that I've answered your questions, let's get to the good stuff! Here's the next installment in Plumpy'nut's quest.   

He's well on his way, but he still needs your help! Will you help him reach his next goal?

Thanks for your support!

Monday, April 14, 2014

Introducing Plumpy'nut

Hello, loyal P.B. and Jers! This is a very special week in the cabinet. As some of you may know, I work for an amazing organization called Action Against Hunger that's committed to ending deadly hunger around the world. And our friends in the cabinet are interested in ending hunger, too, obviously. And, because you're the best fans any silly comic creator can ask for, I know you're also excited about doing good in the world. (That is, when you're not giggling-- or groaning-- over my food puns.)

That's why for the next few weeks, this comic will be dedicated to raising funds for #Team45, Action Against Hunger's social fundraising campaign to save children from hunger. It takes just $45 to save a malnourished child's life using ready-to-use therapeutic food, and I'm hoping to raise $900 to save 20 malnourished children.

How will it work? This week, you'll be introduced to Plumpy'nut, a ready-to-use therapeutic food packet who's on a mission to save 20 children from hunger. For every $100 raised, I'll post a new comic that gets Plumpy'nut one step closer to his goal.

So, if you want to save children from hunger, or if you just enjoy reading these silly comics every week and want to see Plumpy'nut's story progress, please consider making a donation. (Everyone who contributes will get a thank-you note from Plumpy'nut and our other friends from the cabinet!) Also, if you like this campaign, please share the love on your Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Blogger, etc.

Okay, without any further ado... let's get to the comic so you can meet Plumpy'nut!

Hey, if you're feeling inspired and want to get involved in #Team45, you can join today and do your own fundraiser to help end hunger. We'd love to have you on the team! Thanks so much, everyone!