Michelle Obama leads new effort to fight food insecurity with campaign to donate 1 million meals

Former first lady Michelle Obama is leading a new effort to fight hunger and food insecurity in the United States. Along with the debut of her new children's show on Netflix, Waffles + Mochi, the Becoming author launched a new nonprofit campaign with Partnership for a Healthier America. The joint venture, called Pass the Love with Waffles and Mochi, aims to provide "a million meals to families in need with fresh, delicious recipes and ingredients." The initiative hopes to reach families who are experiencing food insecurity and struggling to get food on the table amid the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic.

"If you can't afford good food, you're more likely to have trouble staying healthy," Obama said in a video for Partnership for a Healthier America. "The pandemic has shown us in very stark terms, just how much work we have left to do to make sure that everyone can access good food for their families. That's why the partnership for a healthier America, is working to bring fresh ingredients, new recipes, and fun activities into your home through our 'Pass the Love' campaign. We want to make sure that everybody can discover new foods and explore the kitchen together, just like my friends, Waffles and Mochi."

"That means, every child, every family, and of course, everyone from The Land of Frozen Food like Waffles and Mochi. I hope you agree and if you do, I hope you donate to our 'Pass the Love' campaign," she added. According to the campaign's website, the funds raised will help distribute 1 million Pass the Love meal-kits to families across the country. "Socially-conscious food service organization Genuine Foods will source, assemble, and ship the Pass the Love meal boxes to participating cities. Each box will include high-quality ingredients, and easy, replicable recipes to create three family meals that are fun, fast, and affordable," it states.

"All recipes will be inspired by or featured in Waffles + Mochi and will support children participating in the cooking process and earning ingredient badges," the website adds. "Food is the building block of good health. So food equity is about making sure everyone has affordable access to good, healthy food, and the opportunity for good health. Unfortunately, too many of our friends and neighbors lack that access, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made a bad problem even worse, pushing even more Americans into food and nutrition insecurity."

Obama plays a supermarket owner on Waffles + Mochi which began streaming on Netflix on Tuesday. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a number of famous personalities pop up throughout the series including Lionel Richie, who Obama revealed "helps to close out the season" during her latest appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Discussing the puppet-filled comedy with host Jimmy Kimmel, she said: "It's one of these shows that you want to watch with your kids but you also just want to watch it. That's the beauty of something like this. As a parent of children, you realize there's not a lot of shows you want to watch with your kids and laugh along."

Speaking to PEOPLE before the series' release, Obama said that even adults would find the show fun and educational. "'Waffles + Mochi,' the entire concept is fun. It's approachable, it's an adventure, it's exciting, it's funny," she said. "More importantly, it's something that I would watch even if no kids were around. I know the importance of family programming, having things that moms and dads can sit down and watch and enjoy together with their kids. 'Waffles + Mochi' just really hit it right on the mark."