The Finns appealed to Herbert Hoover, due to his success with food relief to Belgium. Hoover saw that the Finns were starving, many barely surviving on bread made with the bark of trees, and agreed to help. Hoover convinced the Swedes and the Danes to send supplies by guaranteeing that they would be repaid. Over the objections of the Allied blockade authorities, Hoover sent ships to Finland carrying the supplies from Sweden and Denmark, as well as coffee and fish which were donated by Norway. American citizens also donated money to feed the Finnish children.

In addition to supplying food to the general population, an organization was set up to feed children. In total, over 35 million free meals were given to Finnish children.