PrintFavorite Food-Related Charity?
I've read a lot of thoughtful comments on this site about what to buy for great home cooked meals and where to go for great meals out. I thought I'd pose the question of where food fans like to donate when feeling generous.
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9 Comments:
Wondering if you're amidst a bunch of elitists who ignore the needy, eh? Fear not. Public service is important to many people on this site, I'm sure.
When I lived near Philly, I did food-related public service for MLK Day by volunteering at "Our Brother's Place," in Philly, off of Spring Garden Street. It's a homeless shelter for men. I scrubed the kitchen ovens, walls, floors, cleaned the meat slicer, and "served dessert" at lunch (i.e. handed out candy).
I now live in Pittsburgh, and while not food-related, my most recent service was with Catholic Charities to teach ESL to indigent refugees in the region.
Hoping to get invovled with some local food-related public service in the near future.
Susquehanna at 3:32PM on 02/29/08
I try to donate to Citymeals on Wheels (New York city) whenever I can. My holiday gifts are always donations, and Meals on Wheels is a favorite. I can't bear the thought of elderly people unable to get out/unable to afford a good healthy meal. Have been thinking I should find a local soup kitchen/shelter where I can share my food skills and passion.
ride&cook at 5:15PM on 02/29/08
www.dinefordarfur.org
It's my little baby. And if you are in Washington or Oregon, you should definetly go this tuesday!
dagoose at 6:46PM on 02/29/08
America's Second Harvest, a national coalition of food banks. Currently, they have joint venture with Barilla and a group of food celebrities, most notably Mario Batali, to raise funds and awareness through a free celebrity cook book. See here for details.
I like to send gifts at Christmas time from Heifer International. It is a group that embodies the "teach a man to fish" philosophy -- a another great organization.
And my local shelters, during all food drives.
kjgibson at 8:34PM on 02/29/08
I'm a huge believer that charity begins at home so all of my food related charity has been in the local area. I tend to be more hands-on rather than the writer of checks and I generally avoid very large "black holes" of charity that distribute in such far afield places that there is no personal connect. For four years, every Friday night, I headed a group of volunteers from our church who prepared, delivered and served up to 100 meals on the streets of downtown Seattle. I've contributed to the local, Northwest Harvest and love to get involved in gleaning projects that visit cooperating farmer's fields after the main harvest. I think this is tied locally to America's Second Harvest. I've, more that once, secretly left bags of food on the doorstep of people who I know are struggling to make ends meet.
czken at 9:01AM on 03/01/08
I'm a big fan of City Harvest here in New York. There's also a church soup kitchen a few blocks from me that I donate to. A chef friend of mine does what I think is the best thing ever. Sort of what @czken did. A few times a year he goes to the church down the block from him and gets a list of people in need. He makes up bags of food for them and leaves them at their doorsteps. Always super healthy stuff, with a little junk thrown in for the snackers. He'd actually wanted to make stuff, but it was pointed out to him that no one would eat it because anything could be in there.
chisai at 9:58AM on 03/01/08
All local. I've donated and I've received. Both are equally rewarding and humbling.
PerkyMac at 10:04AM on 03/01/08
In addition to the occasional meal for new parents or families facing a crisis (like an illness or death in the family) I regularly contribute casseroles to a local soup kitchen through my church.
Does baking for coffee hour after church count?
SSMom at 10:31AM on 03/01/08
Our far-away favorite is Food for the Poor - go to:
http://www.foodforthepoor.org/site/c.dnJGKNNsFmG/b.3074717/
We also support our local food pantries and the local food bank.
And yes, SSMom, I think baking for church coffee hours counts - there are so many elderly and widowed in our parish who can't or wouldn't bake for themselves. Having a nice homemade something to go with their coffee after church is a great treat for them, and I've even seen some of them wrapping pieces up in napkins to tuck in their purses and take home for afterwards. I try to learn the old ethnic favorites - it means so much to them!
moibec at 3:35PM on 03/01/08