Angel Tree Giving
The holiday season is arguably the most wonderful time of the year, especially when you get into the spirit of giving. One of my personal favorite activities of the holiday season is shopping for Angel Tree gifts to support the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program, which provides gifts to those children who may not otherwise have presents under the tree if it weren't for the help of others.
Special thanks to Darla, who has organized our participation in this program for the last six years. This year we were able to provide gifts for 25 families.
This holiday season, remember to be thankful for what you have and lend a helping hand to those less fortunate. It makes the season that much brighter.
Happy holidays from Kettle Cuisine!
Strike Out Hunger
For the second year in a row we participated in Project Bread's Stike Out Hunger Bowlathon. The orignal event was postposed due to Super Storm Sandy, but we made it out to the rescheduled event to help raise money for Walk for Hunger and have a little fun!
While our bowling skills are not the finest, we were certainly the most stylish team there. Special thanks to Heather for organizing our participation and finding these awesome bowling shirts!
Pebbles and Ramirofrom JAM'N 94.5 MCed the event and gave us a shout on the radio the next morning, which was really great of them. Thanks again!
A big thanks to all of the Soup Soul Strikers on the year's team and all of those who donated to the cause. We'll have to practice our bowling skills before next year's event!
Chain of Giving
Every year we participate in the Greater Boston Food Bank's Chain of Giving event.
It's a fun event complete with a dance-worthy soundtrack, and this year we helped move 400 turkeys from a refigerated truck into the GBFB's cooler to help feed families
in the Boston area this Thanksgiving. Through donations and volunteering we work to give back to our community through this wonderful organization.
Click here to find out how you can get involved.
Brian and Sandy passing turkeys down the chain.
Lunch with The Food Project
In August two of our team members, Heather and Courtney Jo, went to a lunch hosted by The Food Project as a "thank you" for showing support throughout the year. We were able to meet some of the students who work on the farms and enjoy a delicious meal prepared with some of the crops we helped plant earlier in the year, including mixed greens, beets and a summer vegetable ratatouille. It was a very rewarding experience to hear from the kids who are able to participate in the leadership program provided by The Food Project, and the wonderful meal was a bonus! For more information on how you can get involved with The Food Project click here.
We Walk for Hunger!
Ahhhh…..the first Sunday in May. For me, not only does it indicate that I need to stop procrastinating and go out to get my Mom a Mother's Day card along with a special gift that I'll send in the mail to her, it is also the culmination of the fun I have had all winter and spring with the Soup Soul Striders fundraising efforts to benefit Project Bread's Walk for Hunger. Since 1969, The Walk for Hunger has been a tradition in Massachusetts and has become the country's oldest continual pledge walk and largest one-day fundraiser for alleviating local hunger.
For us, it all started 3 years ago when a group of us came together to form the Soup Soul Striders team to take on the 20 mile challenge. It was a bit of a last minute decision but we put our best feet forward and raised as much money as we could in what little time we had. I remember it like it was yesterday…on that warm and partly cloudy morning we met at the Parkman Bandstand sporting sunny and determined attitudes, we set out on a journey that bore an even greater sense of pride and accomplishment than I had ever dreamed of. Hours later, after battling the heat and humidity of the day, we entered the Boston Public Gardens. I remember seeing the archway of balloons that signified the finish line and my heart took a little leap which stopped me in my tracks, "We did it!" I cheered and with a huge grin on my face, skipped on through.
The two years following have proved to be just as gratifying, if not more so. As a team, we have become stronger and more organized by hosting numerous fundraising events throughout the fall, winter and spring months in preparation of Walk day. Since everyone here at Kettle Cuisine enjoys a tasty meal or treat, most of our events are centered around food. For example, two of my favorites are: 'Get Your Sweet Tooth On' Bake-Off and Veggie Wrap Day. I wish that you could scratch and sniff those photos because my mouth is still watering!
It truly is heartwarming to see all the dedicated walkers and fundraisers coming together as one and joining forces with Project Bread to make a positive difference in so many peoples' lives. This year, 43,000 people came together to make the journey raising over $3.6 million that will assist hunger relief programs across the state. The sense of pride and accomplishment that comes along with making those last few steps across the finish line was no less this year than the first time 3 years ago. Wouldn't you like to be a part of something so worthy? Project Bread's Walk for Hunger is always the first Sunday in May so mark your calendars and come join us and the other 40,000 people help make a difference in our local community.