'Help Feed the World'

Meet activists Lauren Bush, 25, and Ellen Gustafson, 29, two young women (see above) helping to FEED the world.

By designing and selling eco-friendly burlap totes and backpacks, the co-founders of FEED Projects have raised over $5 million for the UN World Food Program – providing more than 50 million school meals to children in underdeveloped countries.

The FEED Kenya bag, sold at Bergdorf Goodman (below) for $195, is made with traditional Masai fabric and hand-beaded by Kenyan women and deaf artisans. Each bag has its own FEED stamp and numerical insignia, symbolizing how many mouths will be fed because of you and FEED Projects’ efforts.

There are also pouches, bracelets and teddy bears made of organic cotton and burlap whose purchase helps to buy a high-nutrient paste for children under ages 5.

The burlap bags were inspired by the bags of grain and other food rations being distributed by the UN World Food Program. This is how the two met – Bush, model and niece of former President George W. Bush, was an honorary spokesperson at the UN World Food Program and Columbia alum Gustafson was working there.

Since Bush and Gustafson launched Feed Projects in 2007, the pair has successfully wooed the fashion industry. The humanitarians can be found everywhere, from major launch parties in New York to serving meals in African to young children.

Want your own FEED bag? The humanitarian line of bags and gift items can be found at Whole Foods, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Bobbi Brown cosmetics and a host of other locations.

In an interview with stylecaster.com , Gustafson recently stated that Kenneth Cole will carry a FEED Health backpack to benefit Community Health Workers in Africa. Barnes &Noble totes will fund school meals and language books to children in Nepal.

If the two women don’t inspire you think of ways you might be able to give back, then I hope it makes you consider purchasing a FEED bag or a lovely teddy - a gift that gives back.

Not many gifts can say they do that.

-S. Gonzalez

P.S. check out this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxAFaRXxyCA