GRAND RAPIDS, MI -The Grand Rapids Public Museum was the stage for a night of food appreciation and awareness. On July 24, Friday, food lovers and advocates supporting the Meijer Simply Give Program from around West Michigan were treated to a celebrity cook off between Chef Mario Batali and culinary expert Gail Simmons. This event was part of the program for the Meijer LPGA Classic.
The cook-off included an appetizer and main course from each expert. As these dishes were served, the celebrity food masters interacted with the eager crowd. Desserts were also provided by locals from The Cakabakery, Sweetie-Licious, and Field & Fire.
Proceeds of the event are used to fill up the shelves of food pantries scattered all around the Midwest. For this year, that means a cool $ 750,000, the total raised by the Meijer LPGA Classic.
One of the beneficiaries of the program is The Pantry at John Knox Presbyterian Church, at 4150 Kalamazoo Ave SE., in Grand Rapids. In this pantry alone, over a thousand individuals are served each month. Around 33,000 families benefit from their efforts per year.
When asked for comment on the event, Chef Mario Batali has this to say, "...During the richest time of America, the idea that there is still hunger perplexes me." He adds, "Working out here with Meijer to do something about is a big part of my life. I'm very excited about that -- and the golf."
Donations are still being accepted. If you would like to support Simply Give, just visit the local Meijer and purchase a $10 donation card. There are Double Match Days from September 3 to 5 and on these days Meijer will top up the $ 10 donation with an additional $20. To localize the efforts of the program, each Meijer store has a local food pantry as a partner during campaigns. This ensures the donations remain within the community and benefit the locals in the community.
