Food for Thought: Season of Giving

December 18, 2009  •  Food for Thought

Many of you know that I am very actively involved with Operation Frontline, the part of Share Our Strength that delivers nutrition and cooking instruction to families on limited budgets, helping them to eat healthy despite their financial challenges.  We make recipes like these Vegetable Quesadillas, Barley Jambalaya, and a healthier version of a breakfast sandwich with a whole wheat English muffin and turkey bacon. To keep up the incredible work that OFL does, we need support from people like you.

I recently joined the Advisory Board for Operation Frontline Colorado, so will be lending my leadership to the organization along with my time as a Chef Educator. I’m passionate about ensuring that these participants have a chance to experience the good, fresh, healthy foods that I enjoy, but OFL can’t meet the demand without community support. The supplies that will be needed for the 2010 courses taught in Colorado include:

  • 800 bottles of canola oil (24 fl oz)
  • 500 bottles of olive oil (24 fl oz)
  • 500 cans of no salt added beans (15.5 oz)
  • 500 cans of no salt added corn (15.5 oz)
  • 500 cans of no salt added diced tomatoes (15.5 oz)
  • 800 bags of brown rice and pearl barley (1 lb)
  • 400 containers of oats (18 oz)
  • 550 packages of whole wheat pasta (1 lb)
  • 75 boxes of granola
  • 50 lbs walnuts, almonds and pecans
  • 2000 12-oz plastic cups
  • 2000 paper plates (dinner size)
  • 2000 paper bowls
  • 550 $10 gift cards to King Soopers or Safeway (for the participant grocery tour)

 

In the spirit of giving this holiday season, I know many of you look for ways to involve your children in charitable endeavors. Won’t you consider making OFL part of your plans? Kids can lead a food drive in the neighborhood for these ingredients, or collect donations and purchase the required food items. Or simply make a cash donation. $25 provides the class supplies for a family of 4 attending an OFL class. $50 provides the cooking tools to teach 15 families in OFL classes. $100 pays for the supermarket shopping tour for 10 families. $600 buys all the groceries and supplies for a 6-week course for 10 families.

Product donations can be dropped at my house and I’ll deliver them to OFL. Checks should be made out to Operation Frontline Colorado and sent to OFL at 2727 Bryant Street, Suite 300, Denver, CO  80211.

Save the date for the 2010 Chefs Up Front culinary events to support OFL:

March 21st in Denver and May 23rd in Boulder

Add a Comment