Strength in Numbers: Share Our Strength

Written by Anita
May 21, 2009

Photo Credits: MJ Love

Let’s start with the numbers: 12 million children risk going hungry this year—that’s one in six. A record 6 million people are on food stamps and many food banks have seen demand increase by 50 percent. What can we do to help? We can Share Our Strength. Share Our Strength brings together community groups, activists, and food programs to ensure that children at risk of hunger have access to nutritious food. Through a variety of food-related events and programs, it raises money to help ease hunger in America. At its recent DC-area Taste of the Nation event (featured on GregsListDC!), Share Our Strength assembled over 40 of the DC-area’s top chefs and mixologists who shared their culinary creations and sweet libations. Tasting standouts included 1789’s tartare (moist bigeye tuna, topped with smoky paprika, savory jamón ibérico, pickled pearl onions, and crispy fried bread), Lebanese Taverna’s “Lambtini” (grilled lamb loin and creamy hummus, garnished with pita and served in a martini glass), and Top Chef finalist Carla Hall’s oyster stew (plump oysters bathed in a milky broth of celery and potatoes, accompanied by sweet cornbread). Guests could bid on a variety of silent auction items (including lunch for four with George Stephanopoulos at Vidalia, a tasting dinner with wine pairings at Proof, or gift certificates to a variety of DC-area restaurants, including Oya, Oceanaire Seafood Room, Poste Moderne Brasserie, Founding Farmers, and Bastille.) The sold-out DC event raised over $150,000 to fight childhood hunger. Missed your chance to contribute? Then catch another Taste of the Nation—perhaps the Philadelphia, PA one on August 17th—or text “SHARE” to 20222 to donate $5 right now! Other upcoming Share Our Strength events include Taste of the Nation’s A Tasteful Pursuit on June 3 at Charlie Palmer Steak and Great American Dine Out September 20-26. Have more time to give than money? Then volunteer with Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline or its local program at the Capital Area Food Bank, or host an actual or virtual Great American Bake Sale in your community. Don’t forget—every little bit(e) counts!
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