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S.O.S. Makes sure no child in America goes hungry

By Sarah Thiboutot

July 2008

(Image) Pat Nicklin (Managing Director of Share Our Strength), David Burke (20th Anniversary Spokesperson for Taste of the Nation and Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur), Curtis Wilson (Vice President at American Express, Share Our Strength’s long-time corporate partner), Danny Meyer (Well-known NYC restaurateur and Share Our Strength board member) and Debbie Shore. This picture was taken this year at the 20th Anniversary kick-off event for Taste of the Nation.

When Bill Shore picked up The New York Times in 1984 and learned of the detrimental effects of the Ethiopian Famine Crisis, he knew that something needed to be done.  Within the next hour, Bill had called his sister Debbie, and together the two decided to create an organization that would address hunger in the United States and abroad through the food and restaurant industry.  Their organization, Share Our Strength, allows chefs and restaurant owners across the country to apply their passions for food and feeding others to the ongoing battle against starvation.

“Childhood hunger can be something of the past,” said Co-Founder Debbie Shore. “We can feed every child in America if we understand what the barriers are.  We can close the gap, and that’s our vision.”

This vision began with a broad approach, working to fight starvation universally.  The specific plan to target childhood hunger was developed more recently, when the Shore’s and the rest of their team realized that the causes and consequences of childhood starvation are irreversible for those between the ages of three and six.  SOS is determined to wipe out starvation among children, and believe that they can support the rest of the general population at the same time.   To ensure involvement and active participation, the organization has created a 10 point hunger strategy plan that they are applying to each state.  Some of the points include increasing families’ access to fresh, affordable produce in their own neighborhoods, expanding the reach of summer meal programs and ensuring access to nutritious food in shelters and food pantries. 

Shore is convinced that the level of participation of chefs and others in the food industry is so significant because this is an organization that “goes right to the heart of their work.”  In the beginning stages of its existence, forming a platform of relationships was much harder for SOS than it is today.  Now that they have developed a reputation, and have largely invested into causes for hunger and poverty, they have a greater standing in the community.  Many chefs that are involved with the program are veterans to the organization, and those just starting to get involved are eager to jump on the bandwagon.

SOS has organized numerous sponsorship events, Shore said.  The most recent, Chef’s on Bikes, took more than 80 chefs on a motorcycle tour from DC through the Virginia countryside, where the day ended with a barbeque bash.  All proceeds benefited SOS, and all food was donated to the organization.  Their largest annual and most successful project, Taste of the Nation, involves more than 2,000 chefs including Top Chef’s Tom Collichio, Emeril Lagasse and other volunteers, who have helped to raise more than $70 million  to prevent childhood hunger.  Other events include A Tasteful Pursuit, the Great American Bake Sale.  SOS is also starting two new events: The Great American Dine out, and Operation Frontline, Shore said,.

The Great American Dine Out will allow SOS to reach all levels of the food and restaurant industry for participation rather than targeting only fine dining, Shore said. GADO calls for all entities, from casual to quick dining to delivery, to participate by contributing a percentage of a weeks worth of their sales, from September 21 through the 28, toward the elimination childhood hunger. About 3,000 restaurants have already signed up and SOS plans to get as many more engaged as possible. 

To date, SOS has served more than 40 million meals to children across the nation and has raised more than 200 million dollars for their cause.  Shore says they are proud to have witnessed the serving of school breakfasts become universal, and have funded thousands of organizations.  They have increased the number of children being served healthy after school snacks by three times, and the list continues.  Most importantly, Shore said, SOS has brought people together to successfully fight for a cause that other wise may have never convened.

Help Share your Strength by going to events, participating and contributing. Visit their web site: www.strength.org