urbanfoodie

A friend in San Francisco started a tradition in 2007 of throwing a fundraiser on his birthday to raise money for the SF Food Bank, raising enough money for thousands of meals so far. I’m shamelessly stealing his idea and starting an annual tradition to raise money for my local hunger-relief organization, the Second Harvest Heartland. Although many of us live and eat comfortably in Minnesota, hunger remains (and is increasing) as a problem in this state just like the rest of the nation.

Did you know:

• Visits to the food shelves, soup kitchens and shelters that make up the distribution network for Second Harvest Heartland have doubled in just the past five years. 
• Hunger is costing Minnesotans upwards of $1.62 billion annually in direct and indirect health and education costs.  
• 40 percent of those seeking emergency hunger relief are children under the age of 18—a five percent increase over the past five years. 
• 78.5 percent of adults who seek emergency hunger relief are high school graduates. 
• 41 percent of those seeking emergency hunger relief chose between paying for food and paying for utilities or heating fuel—a seven percent increase over the past five years. 
• For more research findings about hunger in Minnesota, visit:  http://www.hungerfreemn.org/hunger-in-mn/hunger-facts

So instead of buying me drinks or paying for my meal at the French Laundry, help me celebrate by donating that $5 or $250 to the urbanfoodie Food and Fund Drive 2010. Even if you are a stranger and/or wouldn’t buy me a drink/the meal of my dreams, please consider donating! $5 = 18 meals, so every bit helps.

I’m hoping to raise $280 (cause I’m turning 28) between now and Thanksgiving. Though a modest goal for this first year, this amount translates to over 1,000 meals for folks in need in Minnesota. The easiest way to donate is to do so electronically on the drive’s website. Otherwise feel free to give by cash or check (made out to: Second Harvest Minnesota) in person sometime - or on my birthday (this Sunday, October 3rd) at the Vegas Lounge where I will almost certainly be singing something by Pat Benatar and taking requests.

I am grateful to always have the means not just to eat, but to eat well and with people that I care about. I hope that you’ll join me in helping to fight the problem of hunger in Minnesota. Stay tuned for updates on the progress over the next two months. Thanks!!!