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Calling All Americans:
Dine Out, End Hunger
A year or so ago we decided that we needed to involve more of America in ending childhood hunger in the United States—more restaurants and more diners.
After lots of conversations with many in our network, we had it: Share Our Strength’s Great American Dine Out, a week-long national dine-out in September (21-28 this year) that brings together the entire restaurant industry and millions of customers. Restaurants contribute a percentage of their sales and the rest of us eat out at as many of those restaurants as we can that week. The funds raised support our efforts to end childhood hunger through grants, partnerships and education.
Here’s how you can help:
- Mark your calendars for September 21-28.
- Find restaurants in your area—our on-line restaurant map search will be ready by August 22 at GreatAmericanDineOut.org.
- See if your favorites are already on the list.
- Tell your friends, family and colleagues to eat out during the Great American Dine Out.
- Look for the Great American Dine Out logo at participating restaurants.
- Ask friends in the restaurant biz to sign up.
American Express quickly signed on as presenting sponsor and other great companies have followed as partners. Still, we’ll need thousands of restaurants and millions of diners to reach our first-year goal of $3 million. We’ve signed up 3,000 restaurants so far, and they keep coming. We want to be sure that no matter where you live, work or play, you’ll be surrounded by great choices to dine out September 21 through 28.
I hope you’ll join me in making plans to eat out from September 21-28 to support the Great American Dine Out.
Cate Puzo
Editor, Share Our Strength
P.S. I’d love to know what Share Our Strength means to you. E-mail me your thoughts and thanks!
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The first Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival takes over the city October 9-12. Share Our Strength is a proud beneficiary. Make plans today!
Nominate candidates for our 2008 Leadership Awards. Winners will be announced October 19th at our Conference of Leaders. Submit nominations by August 15.
Need knives? Each purchase of Rachael Ray’s Trio Cutlery Set means a $15 donation to Share Our Strength. Check them out.
Help us help struggling families during this food crisis. Make your secure on-line donation now.
I’m thinking of creating my own Great American Dine Out reunion club. I’ll invite different groups of friends to join me in eating out at a favorite participating restaurant each day between September 21 and 28. Each year, I’ll repeat it, adding and subtracting a few.
Got an idea for your Great American Dine Out community? We’d love to share it—just let me know.
Pork Enough for 30,000+ Meals
The National Pork Board took a creative approach to their partnership with Share Our Strength. As the “Official Protein of Taste of the Nation” in Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, Dallas, Houston and New Orleans, they publicized the events, provided participating chefs with luscious cuts of pork and gave recipes to the attendees.
To make an impact locally, Vande Rose Farms of Oskaloosa, Iowa is donating one pound of pork to the local food bank for every person that attends the events they are sponsoring. They’re on track to deliver more than 3,500 lbs. of pork – enough for more than 30,000 meals. Little did they know how valuable this would be. Since March, food banks have been reporting increased demand and food shortages due to rising costs and declining donations.
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