Browse the Web, Feed a Family

That’s the gist of a new feed-the-hungry effort supported by Microsoft.

The PC software maker’s "Browser for the Better" campaign donates to a national network of food banks every time someone downloads its new Internet Explorer 8. The effort, which kicked off last week, runs through Aug. 8.

According to Microsoft, every donation made for a download is the equivalent of providing eight meals to Feeding America’s network of 206 United States food banks. Microsoft donates $1.15 per download, to a maximum of $1,000,000.

As Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America explains, the recession is hurting the hungry and those families grappling with tight finances. “The Browser for the Better campaign is both raising awareness of hunger and giving people an easy opportunity to help their neighbors at no cost to them. It’s a win-win arrangement.”

The Browser for the Better campaign was launched June 10 at New York City’s Time Warner Center and San Francisco’s Justin Herman Plaza. Artists at each location used food cans to sculpt the likenesses of the Empire State Building and Golden Gate Bridge, respectively.

“Canhattan” (shown above/photo courtesy of Microsoft) was a mini-New York City skyline created at the Time Warner Center as part of the campaign.

Four thousand cans of food were used in the sculpture of the Empire State Building and surrounding cityscape as part of a national campaign sponsored by Microsoft and Feeding America to drive awareness of the plight of the hungry.

The food items were then donated to the Food Bank for New York City, City Harvest in New York and the San Francisco Food Bank, all in the Feeding America network.

“The Browser for the Better campaign is all about making it easy for people to make a real difference,” said Amy Barzdukas, a senior director at Microsoft, in a press statement.

So go, browse the Web a little more securely and knowing you are helping to feed a hungry child. And, of course, spread the word.