John and Antuanette spent decades feeding people on the street in every imaginable way, but they couldn’t stop thinking that there had to be a better way.
Ultimately, they believed that people should have the power to choose what they wanted to eat –not just what someone gave them. The Pattons wondered whether they could leverage the fast-food industry and financial payment technology to enable starving people to access food from over 200,000 fast-food locations nationwide.
They knew that they were not alone in their desire to help hungry people. They wanted to equip other people to be generous. Today, the Pattons’ dream has gone far beyond the streets, helping hungry school children, university students, veterans, and victims of natural disasters.
Because Discover® is accepted at all national fast-food chains, Street Charity Cards are also accepted there. The card’s magnetic strip on the back has been restricted to working only at fast-food restaurants, thereby eliminating its misuse for anything other than food. The cards also have a built-in six-month expiration, allowing unused funds to be recycled to help others in need.
