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Lunch Bag Sac: Social Media Helps Volunteer Group Grow

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – It's organized chaos as Hashtag Lunchbag-Sac works to make hundreds of lunches for the homeless.

"Loaves and Fishes feeds them, but they can't take food out. So this is good because there's no meat in it so they can eat for a snack or for dinner," said Arianna Apilado, the group's lead event coordinator.

Apilado saw San Francisco had a Hashtag Lunchbag program and thought it would be a great thing to bring here. She organized it and, through the power of social media, hundreds now volunteer.

"First we just made our own lunches and then we got a location where we could make our lunches together," Apilado said.

Apilado asks volunteers to bring ten dollars to help her cover the cost of the food. She likes everyone gathering together because of the sense of comradery.

"[It's] probably the best part because you have people who share the same interests as you and want to help people just to help them," Apilado said.

Through social media and word of mouth, the amount of volunteers continues to grow.

"Every time I see new faces. [I'm] like, 'I don't know you but I'm so glad you came," Apilado said.

What makes Hashtag Lunchbag different is inside every lunch is a personalized note.

"A note to tell them that they're loved to keep their head up and there are better things coming," Apilado said.

Lunches are delivered once a month – an easy way to remind the homeless they aren't forgotten.

"They need to be reminded they matter and people care about them. They may not see it every day but at least once a month they are reminded," Apilado said.

The group meets every fourth Saturday of the month. If you're interested in volunteering, head to their website at http://hashtaglunchbagsac.wordpress.com.

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