Pim Techamuanvivit usually writes about her globetrotting adventures in the world of food.

But this time of year, she focuses on the world of those for whom food is “not a mere indulgence but a matter of survival.”

Pim, through her Chez Pim blog,  leads a far-flung charitable effort among food bloggers called Menu For Hope. The event last year raised nearly $61,000 to help the UN World Food Programme feed the hungry.

Giving has never been more delectable. For every $10 donation, you get a virtual raffle ticket that gives you a shot at a cornucopia of prizes.

Items include everything from a New York City guided pizza tour or a one-night package at the Vermont Culinary Inn to a six-month Chef-on-Call subscription or a private episode of Wine Library TV with the irrepressible Gary Vaynerchuk (whose irrepressible videos appear regularly in this blog). Here’s the full list of prizes.

This year’s proceeds will help support the school lunch program in the African nation of Lesotho.

The program in Lesotho was chosen, Pim says, because it is a model in local procurement — buying food locally to support local farmers and the local economy. 

Instead of shipping surplus corn across the ocean, the WFP is buying directly from local subsistence farmers who practice conservation farming methods in Lesotho to feed the children there.

We feed the kids, keep them in school, and support their parents and community farming. This sustainable approach to aid is something we believe in and strongly support.

Inspired by the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia five years ago, the project is clearly a labor of love. Out of every $100 donated, nearly $87 will go directly to the school children and farmers in Lesotho, and 0% (zero) will go to Menu For Hope management. About $28,000 has been raised so far this year.

The reason Pim started the program, and why you should consider contributing, is simple as pie: “We may never eradicate hunger from the face of the earth, but why should that stop us from trying?”