As just about every food blog has publicized already, Pim Techamuanvivit of Chez Pim is once again spearheading the epic online fund-raiser Menu for Hope to benefit the U.N. World Food Programme. In 2006 she raised over $62,000. This year’s donations — which just passed $55,000! — will be earmarked for the school lunch program in Lesotho, a small country landlocked by South Africa, as an extra incentive to encourage families to educate their children. The WFP actually buys locally grown food instead of America’s surplus commodity crops, thus supporting local subsistence farmers and the local economy. Pim has several guest dispatches from Lesotho if you want to learn more.
The other cool thing about Menu for Hope is that food bloggers all over the world have donated hundreds of prizes, ranging from over the top (i.e., two tickets to Madrid Fusion worth 1,200 euros, from Pim) to kitchen gadgets, restaurant gift certificates, books, and special services. (I wracked my brain trying to think of something the Ethicurean could donate — a jar of home-rendered lard from a pastured pig? personalized punny headlines for your blog? nah — but lamed out, alas.)
For each $10 donation, you get a raffle ticket that earns you a shot at the prize of your choice; be sure to note the codes of your favorites while browsing. The more obscure the prize, the better your chances. Last year I urged readers to donate what you’d willingly spend for a two-person meal in a restaurant, or on a trip to the farmers market, which for me was $100. My financial circumstances are a bit different this year [cough cough], so I’ll be scaling that back to $50. The money is collected through Firstgiving, and you’ve got until Friday, December 21 (I think at midnight PST) to donate.
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Humor:
December 20th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
I’d have bid on that jar of home-rendered lard from a pastured pig!
Val
December 20th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Val — Really? Perhaps for next year I will assemble a porky little gift basket of lard, rustic paté, and head cheese (assuming I get better at the latter).
December 20th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Lard sounds good to me as well. mmm….lard…
December 21st, 2007 at 12:13 am
Thanking you for your effort.