The ACF Knoa-Kohala Chefs de Cuisine Inc. Childhood Nutrition Day event, Nov. 15, 2007.

October 16 is National Childhood Hunger Day

In 1995, the American Culinary Federation Chef & Child Foundation, Inc. reached out across America with its first Childhood Hunger Day national awareness campaign. This year, chefs in ACF chapters across the nation will hold events focused on nutrition and ending childhood hunger. National Childhood Hunger Day is celebrated Oct. 16.

Clambake fundraiser with Providence Ronald McDonald House

ACF Rhode Island Chapter co-hosted a clambake with the Ronald McDonald House at Hyatt Regency Newport, Newport, R.I., Sept. 7. Funds from the event were divided between the organizations, helping the Ronald McDonald House continue to provide a home away from home for children receiving medical treatment, and allowing ACF Rhode Island Chapter to enhance culinary education.

Tucson Meet Yourself

ACF Chefs Association of Southern Tucson is hosting Childhood Hunger Day events that will take place during Tucson Meet Yourself, Oct. 10–12, in Tucson, Ariz. Schools throughout the city will participate in the weekend festivities and celebrate nutritious ethnic cuisine. Elementary and middle school students will write essays about how their mother or grandmother cooked healthful ethnic cuisine, and present recipes. High school and college students will compete in an iron-chef-style challenge, where teams choose an ethnicity, and prepare an entrée and dessert from a mystery basket. Local chefs and dietitians will judge the competition.

2008 Childhood Hunger Day Forum

ACF Jersey Shore Chefs Association will hold its annual Childhood Hunger Day Forum at the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Neptune, N.J., Oct. 16. Since 1995, the chapter has participated in the nationwide event, and every New Jersey governor has recognized its efforts by proclaiming Oct. 16 Childhood Hunger Day. This year, six elementary school classes from around the community will attend the forum. Chefs will share nutritional ideas and interactive lessons about good food choices with students. Then, chefs will provide lunch to two local child feeding programs using recipes made from USDA commodities. The chapter will continue its fight against childhood hunger throughout the year by donating food to the Second Helping Program.

Hit a Homerun for Nutrition

For the third year, ACF Kona-Kohala Chefs de Cuisine Inc. will participate in Childhood Hunger Day with its “Hit a Homerun for Nutrition” event in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, Nov. 7. Chefs will present breakfast, and host interactive, educational workshops for more than 400 girls in the GEMS: Girls Exploring Math and Science program. Jean Hull, CCE, AAC, owner, Jean’s Hospitality Consultant, Kailua Kona, and Chef & Child chair for the chapter, came up with the idea four years ago after she discovered that the girls arrived hungry or had skipped breakfast.