’One Big Table Potlucks’ Bring Cooks Across The Country Together For A Cause; Raising Awareness and Funds for Hunger in America

CHICAGO, May 18 -— America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network has kicked off “One Big Table Potlucks” to increase hunger awareness and raise funds for the millions of Americans experiencing hunger or food insecurity. This national grassroots program will also identify the best cooks and recipes in America.

“One Big Table Potlucks” bring people together to enjoy a meal and social gathering with friends and family. Thousands of individuals and organizations around the country are expected to host “One Big Table Potlucks” through Sept. 15.

Any individual or organization can host a potluck at home, church, work or school. Guests attending the potluck bring a dish, submit a recipe and help raise funds. The effort is supported by a Web site, http://www.onebigtable.org , which helps the host plan and promote their event, receive RSVPs and collect donations and recipes.

“Potlucks are so American,” said national food writer Molly O’Neill, who helped design the program and is planning to publish a cookbook that will include a selection of winning recipes. “You invite your friends to bring a favorite dish and make a donation to the local America’s Second Harvest food bank. The recipes are automatically entered into a national contest.”

Recipes categories include:

-- Heirloom: family favorites that have been passed from generation to generation

-- Regional: recipes that use local ingredients or are characteristic of a particular culture or community

-- Stone Soup: dishes easy on the budget but high on imagination

-- Personal Best: a chance for amateur chefs to strut their stuff

A panel of culinary experts will select winners in each contest category. Each will receive a Viking Culinary Package. The grand-prize winner will be awarded a Viking Professional Ranger, considered “the Mercedes-Benz of the kitchen.”

Funds raised by “One Big Table Potlucks” will benefit the America’s Second Harvest Network, which includes more than 200 food banks and food-rescue organizations that serve all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The Network secures and delivers two billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually to more than 50,000 charitable agencies that feed over 23 million Americans at risk of hunger.

“Hunger is among our most solvable social issues. Unfortunately, many Americans think of hunger as a problem that impacts only citizens of other nations,” said Robert Forney, president and CEO of America’s Second Harvest, the Nation’s Food Bank Network. “’One Big Table Potlucks’ will raise awareness of the prevalence of hunger in America and remind us of our obligation to help our less fortunate neighbors secure food and better nutrition.”

The deadline for recipe submission is Sept. 15. National judging for best recipes will be held in Chicago in October.

Sur La Table, a sponsor of “One Big Table Potlucks” and contributor to the America’s Second Harvest Network, is helping promote the program and recruit Potluck hosts. A $10 donation will be made to America’s Second Harvest for each of the first 1,500 people who sign up to host a potluck. Sur La Table is also selling a specially designed apron and towel with proceeds benefiting America’s Second Harvest. For more details and information http://www.surlatable.com

To find more information on “One Big Table Potlucks,” including how to sign up as a host, visit http://www.onebigtable.org

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America’s Second Harvest -- The Nation’s Food Bank Network is the nation’s largest charitable hunger-relief organization with a Network of more than 200 regional member food banks and food - rescue programs serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The America’s Second Harvest Network secures and distributes nearly two billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. The America’s Second Harvest Network supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies operating more than 94,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. Each year, the America’s Second Harvest Network provides food assistance to more than 23 million low-income hungry people in the United States, including more than nine million children and nearly three million seniors. For more on America’s Second Harvest, please visit http://www.secondharvest.org.

Sur La Table provides inspiration, tools and techniques for those who wish to enhance their lives through creative and confident cooking and entertaining. Sur La Table’s comprehensive selection of products includes tools from around the world to prepare any cuisine as well as beautiful dishes, linens, and glasses to create a striking presentation. Sur La Table broadens knowledge of food and culture through its culinary program with cooking classes taught by the best chefs and authors in the country. Sur La Table shops the world for new products providing the unexpected and a sense of discovery, whether you step into one of their stores nationwide, open the pages of their catalog, or visit http://www.surlatable.com.

Viking Range Corporation is a culinary lifestyle company that originated ultra-premium commercial-type appliances for the indoor and outdoor kitchen. Viking has extended its brand into the culinary products arena with the introduction of Professional cookware, cutlery and kitchen countertop appliances. Thirteen Viking Culinary Arts Centers and Viking HomeChef stores throughout the United States offer retail products and culinary instruction. Viking is headquartered in Greenwood, Miss. Viking major appliances are sold through a network of premium appliance distributors and dealers worldwide, and Viking culinary products are sold through a network of premium gourmet retailers. To request product information, please contact Viking toll-free at 888-845-4641, or visit the Web site at http://www.vikingrange.com. VIKING is a registered trademark of Viking Range Corporation.

Contact Information

Ross Fraser

Media Contact

America’s Second Harvest

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