Buy a bar, save a child’s life

Students can now satisfy their hunger and help malnourished children in Africa and Haiti by purchasing a new food bar sold in Austin Community College bookstores.

Two Degrees Food manufactures the new food bars, and the company's co-founder and president, William Hauser, said they draw inspiration from Toms Shoes, and they utilize a one-to-one business model.

"What that means is that for every bar that we sell here in the U.S., we give away a nutrition pack in Africa and now in Haiti as well," Hauser said.

Two Degrees Food has given away over 70,000 nutrition packs so far to kids in Malawi, Kenya, Somalia and Haiti, according to Hauser, and have committed to donating 100,000 more in the next couple of months.

"The results of the stories that come from these donations are really incredible," Hauser said. "It's kids, who are on the verge of death, are put through treatments of these nutrition packs and come out on the other side being happy and healthy, so it's really an incredible story."

According Two Degrees Food's website, nutrition packs sent to malnourished children contain peanut-based bars that are high in protein and fatty acids. As for the bars themselves, they are vegan, low-sodium, gluten-free and come in three flavors.

ACC student Marissa Garza purchased a Two Degrees Food bar and said the concept behind the food bars is one of the reasons she plans to purchase more in the future.

"I love the Two Degrees bars," Garza said. "I mean, I've tasted better vegan food which is the only thing I eat, but I'm incredibly happy that this company isn't just in it for the profits. They are actually being proactive and aiding a good cause."

Garza's only gripe is that she wishes there were more flavors to choose from.

"We've got a new flavor coming out in a couple of weeks," Hauser said. "It's chocolate banana. It has no nuts so it's a particularly good fit for elementary schools and kids who have allergies."

Currently, Two Degrees Food bars are sold in every Whole Foods in the country, on about 200 college campuses, and at large corporations like Microsoft, HP and AOL, according to Hauser. In addition, the bars are sold at smaller retailers like coffee shops, gyms and museums.

With the bars being sold on college campuses, the company has begun hiring students as campus directors to help market and sell their product.

"[The campus director program] is a pretty entrepreneurial activity where students are challenged to sell and market Two Degree bars on their campus and to spread the mission," Hauser said.

Students wishing to inquire about the program can visit the company's website at twodegreefoods.com/college.

One of the reasons Two Degrees Food is on college campuses in particular, is because they believe college students have shown a large interest in helping different causes.

"Something that we've seen is an abundance of good intentions on college campuses, and it's not exclusive to college campuses, but I think it's particularly pertinent," said Hauser. "But there is a gap that we've also seen between good intentions and good actions that, while people want to do good there are barriers to that in a number of forms."

Two Degrees Food serves as a way to bridge that gap, according to Hauser.

"It's a very easy, simple and tangible way for a college student and anyone else to really get involved in a really important cause if there is a way to do it without changing a daily behavior," Hauser said. "College students, every day, are going to buy some snack, and if he or she buys a Two Degrees bar it has an enormous impact on a hungry child."