Thanksgiving Food Fun and Fighting Hunger – November 9, 2012
AWESOME AUTUMN FEAST Ever wish a chef would cook Thanksgiving dinner? How about 12 chefs? While not officially Thanksgiving, The Jacoby Creek Land Trust invites everyone to the third annual Awesome Autumn Feast Sunday, Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Arcata Community Center.
The Awesome Autumn Feast features 12 chefs from 12 local restaurants as well as caterers, all preparing pasture-raised, organic turkeys grown in Bayside.
The restaurants and caterers who will each cook up an amazing turkey include Avalon, Bless My Soul, Brick & Fire, Café Brio, Restaurant 301 at the Carter House, Folie Douce, Jambalaya, Plaza Grill, The Other Place and Wildplatter Café, plus two local caterers – Bret Shuler Fine Catering and Uniquely Yours Catering.
Adults $35, Youth (under 16) $20; under 5 free. Proceeds support Jacoby Creek Land Trust conservation and education programs. Tickets at Wildberries Marketplace, call (707) 822-0900 or e-mail jclandtrust@yahoo.com.
TASTE OF THE HOLIDAYS The Rotary Club of Arcata Sunrise is excited to announce ts annual “Taste of the Holidays” event Thursday, Nov. 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Arcata Community Center.
Just one week before Thanksgiving, this tasting extravaganza is an excellent jump-start to the holiday season. Food samples from dozens of local vendors as well as wine and brew tasting from a variety of wineries and breweries, live music and raffle prizes. Admission is $25 per person. Tickets are available at Hensel’s Ace Hardware in Arcata, Shady Lady in Eureka, Jackson & Eklund in McKinleyville, online at our website or at the door.
VEGETARIAN SOCIETY POTLUCK The Humboldt Vegetarian Society will host a vegan Thanksgiving potluck Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Humboldt Area Foundation Community Center, 373 Indianola Road in Bayside. Entertainment will be provided by local singer-songwriter Josephine Johnson.
This event is open to the public and is free of charge. Attendees should bring one or two vegan dishes to share, as well as their own plates, cups, and utensils. (Vegan means no animal products, including meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, etc.)
The Humboldt Vegetarian Society is a group of vegans, vegetarians and omnivores who meet monthly to share delicious vegan food, recipes and good company. HumboldtVeg.blogspot.com
HOLIDAY FOOD & FUND DRIVE Food for People, the Food Bank for Humboldt County, is gearing up for its 20th annual Holiday Spirit Food & Fund Drive. The community is cordially invited to participate in the 2012 Hunger Fighter Challenge.
The Hunger Fighter Challenge is a friendly competition to see which Hunger Fighter “team” can collect the most money and food for the food bank from the beginning of November through the end of December.
Dozens of businesses, schools, community groups and civic organizations have participated in the Hunger Fighter Challenge over the years. Last year, the Hunger Fighter Challenge collected a total of 11,610 pounds of food and/or dollars.
Several of last year’s teams incorporated some very creative ideas to encourage participation in the drive. For instance, Humboldt Crossfit hosted a food drive with their members and offered free workouts and a barbecue as donation incentives. Pan Dulce Steel Drum Orchestra collected money from all band members and bought food in bulk.
All donated food was distributed through food bank programs that reach more than 12,000 children, seniors, and individuals each month, which is more than 10 percent of Humboldt County’s population. Funds collected last holiday season helped provide for people in need through the winter months.
To participate in this year’s Hunger Fighter Challenge, just contact Food for People. The food bank can provide participating Hunger Fighter teams with a food barrel, bags and a fund collection container. Support materials can also be provided, including a list of most-needed foods, flyers, local hunger information and materials to help motivate teams to donate.
Winning teams will be highlighted in a “Thank You to Hunger Fighter Challenge Team Winners” television ad that will run during January and February, and will be featured in the first 2013 issue of Food Notes (the Food for People newsletter) which reaches more than 5,000 people!
Requests for assistance increased by almost 40 percent in each of the last two years and remain steady this year. A large majority of the individuals served are children and seniors.
Food for People provides food assistance when people fall on hard times but the organization cannot respond effectively when food supplies run low.
For more information regarding the Hunger Fighter Challenge, contact Laura Hughes, local food resources coordinator, at (707) 445-3166 extension 312. foodforpeople.org
