I recently visited the supermarket to look at the price of baby formula. You see, my fiancée and I have a baby on the way and we’re preparing ourselves for the inevitable onslaught of new weekly costs.

There’s little that shocks me, disgusts me or offends me, but seeing baby formula security tagged is an exception. The only people stealing formula are those who are desperate. If there’s a black market for baby formula, that’s because it’s too expensive.

To be clear, I’m not advocating theft. While stealing to feed your family is the ultimate moral quandary, I do not believe it’s right. But what’s a struggling family to do when baby formula is scarce or too costly?

No parent wants to let their baby starve.

So what are they to do? Sometimes it feels as though there’s no help available — the government aren’t going to help, in fact, this country has faced austerity for many years now, with little opportunities for working families to improve their lot. One can only hope our new government deals families a more generous hand…

Until that happens, there exists some food and baby banks, but only few support systems. In fact, there is only one charity dedicated to providing families with access to baby milk and parental resources in the UK: FeedUK. So, then, it’s right that we should support such a charity.

I know, you work hard for your money and times are tough. You should be able to enjoy your earnings while the powers that be support our families. Unfortunately, that’s not happening — too many of us are struggling.

So I want to do what I can to help.

That’s why I’m donating 33% of profits from “Starship Sprout” on Itch.io to FeedUK.

You get to enjoy your earning with an addictive roguelite adventure while helping struggling families.

First, I’d like to say that FeedUK has no affiliation with Banana Jam Games and this is not some kind a brand deal or soulless charity-washing campaign. I’m doing this because I feel impassioned to act.

Second, I want to address the donation rate. Why only 33%? Surely, if you feel so passionate you’d donate more…why not 50% or even 100%? Because, with a child on the way, I need baby formula, too.

Third, this does mean that the game will now be launching at £2.99 instead of with the £1.99 launch sale. That’s not to say, however, that there won’t be an ample amount of discount counts scattered across our Discord server and YouTube channel. 

My goal is to donate at least £500 over the first three months of launch.

“Starship Sprout” will be available sometime in the first half of November 2024. To get notified on its launch and help me reach my donation goal, please join the Banana Jam Games Discord server or subscribe to our YouTube channel. You may also wish to add “Starship Sprout” to your collect on Itch.io.