Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

Grind Out Hunger holiday window Downtown Santa Cruz

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County gets to use the Louis Rittenhouse building Downtown Santa Cruz every year to promote the Holiday Food Drive. The difference this year is that Grind Out Hunger was invited to participate and build out a window…WOW…first off I have to mention how everyone is backing Grind Out Hunger so fiercely it’s fairly emotional.  We brought in a quarter pipe and stacked it on top of the barrels….take a picture in front of the window and upload it to the Facebook Fan Page to show your support.

Grind Out Hunger Holiday window Downtown Santa Cruz

Grind Out Hunger Holiday window Downtown Santa Cruz

Here are the other windows Second Harvest Food Bank built out for the Holiday Food Drive.

Give a Little Feed Alot campaign

Give a Little Feed Alot campaign

Twin Lakes Church's Feed Hope campaign

Twin Lakes Church's Feed Hope campaign

I got a $45 parking ticket for my back wheels being more than 18″ from the curb which was pretty weak…

Weakest parking ticket ever...

Weakest parking ticket ever...

Strikeforce MMA Fighter Luke Rockhold endorsing Grind Out Hunger

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Strikeforce MMA fighter Luke Rockhold stopped by Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop the other day and gladly posed with a Grind Out Hunger barrel. Check out Luke Rockhold

Strikeforce MMA Fighter Luke Rockhold

Strikeforce MMA Fighter Luke Rockhold

Grind Out Hunger week long whirlwind tour of schools

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Grind Out Hunger has been on a tear since the Holiday Kickoff Luncheon reaching out to schools that have not participated in the Holiday Food Drives in years past. First Stop was Aptos Jr. High where the 7th and 8th graders were in a challenge to see who could raise the most pounds per student with the losers sitting on the ground during assembly.  AJH had some great ideas for raising food, lets see how they do this year.

Aptos Jr. High School

Aptos Jr. High School

Next stop on the tour was VHM Christian School another 1st timer for the Grind Out Hunger challenge.  We rolled in and immediately felt welcomed while the morning music was being played, the place had a nice sense of calm with all of the kids participating in the songs. This school seemed really motivated to crush some numbers for The Holiday Food Drive…

VHM Christian School

VHM Christian School

Santa Cruz High School…Grind Out Hunger is so excited to finally get in and speak to the ASB about The Holiday Food Drive. Another 1st time player in the Grind Out Hunger game, after speaking to these kids they get it…with over 1100 kids their target is already 10lbs a student…considering Santa Cruz High School hadn’t done a food drive in a while that would be a significant increase. GO CARDINALS!

Santa Cruz High School

Santa Cruz High School

Santa Cruz High School

Santa Cruz High School

End of the line for the week was Bradley Elementary School in Corralitos. This stop had some special ties to our speech, Bly Morales of Second Harvest Food Bank has kids attending this school.  Once again, this school had not participated in a Holiday Food Drive (are you seeing a pattern here?) in previous years and our job was to inform them of the challenge we were issuing. I spoke to the 4th thru 6th and man…out of all the schools we stopped this week these guys were on fire! The 6th grade class had a rice and beans challenge in a stated “friendly” competition…but based on what I saw and heard it was definitely ON for competition. I then asked where the 4th and 5th graders were and now we have multiple grades going at it to see who can raise the most pounds of food per student.

Bradley Elementary School

Bradley Elementary School

It is so inspirational to see the kids embrace the Grind Out Hunger challenge for 2009-2010 across the county. With more people than ever needing assistance this year I am confident my kids can hit the 100,000 pound mark for Grind Out Hunger…..one week down 2 more to go. Who is going to win the title this year???

NEWSFLASH all schools can use this site Donate Cash to Grind Out Hunger and have it count towards your totals!!!

http://thefoodbank.givezooks.com/campaigns/grind-out-hunger

Second Harvest Food Bank Annual Holiday Kickoff Luncheon

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

All I can say about today is wow…the momentum that Grind Out Hunger has and the support from Second Harvest Food Bank with branded donation barrel wraps, DVD story, small handout bags for the schools and a sign up sheet for Grind Out Hunger is quite overwhelming.  Second Harvest Food Bank has its annual Holiday Food Drive Kickoff Luncheon every year (I said annual right..) and for the last couple of years I have had the opportunity to speak to the group about the past achievements, current goals and overall update for Grind Out Hunger.  This year’s Holiday Food Drive Co-Chairs Bruce & Mary McPherson and Sandi Eason are setting the challenge for you to get involved in the largest food drive of the year!  Grind Out Hunger’s goal is 100,000 pounds of food to be raised through local elementary, middle and high schools while overall Second Harvest Food Bank’s goal is 2 million pounds!!! It was awesome to feel the love today and know that there are great people involved to help put food on peoples tables this holiday season.

GOHbag

Grind Out Hunger bags distributed to all the local schools

DKGOHholiday

Grind Out Hunger's DK

Bruce McPherson Holiday Co-Chair

Bruce McPherson Holiday Co-Chair

Sandi Eason Holiday Co-Chair

Sandi Eason Holiday Co-Chair

Gateway School 1st official talk for Grind Out Hunger 2009-2010

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

I always enjoy going out to the schools and talking to kids. This is the second year we Grind Out Hunger has engaged Gateway School for the Second Harvest/Grind Out Hunger campaign it was a great place to start. Ok, so can I brag a little about Gateway…2007-2008 the school only raised 797 pounds…in 2008-2009 they hit Emerald Status and brought in a whopping 2763 pounds an increase of 246%!!! I issued the challenge for 2009-2010, the kids were on it and ready to go big again this year. Thanks to Lisa and Bly from Second Harvest Food Bank for being so on it and kicking off the year with a bang. If you want Grind Out Hunger to come to your school please contact Bly Morales bly@thefoodbank.org to get donation barrels, schedule a speaking engagement or request a DVD about the program. Lets all help each other and Grind Out Hunger.

lisatalk2010

talkinggw2010

831 Comedy Fest 09 donates to Grind Out Hunger!

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

If you want to laugh your a$$ off for a good reason then go to the 831 Comedy Fest 09 and mention Grind Out Hunger and they will donate $$$ from the ticket sale to our cause. Thanks a million to Ryan Zen Lama of 831 Magazine for the hook up and all the love!!! See you all at the 831 Comedy Fest 09 on October 17th @ Golden State Theatre in Downtown Monterey.

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Monterey Bay Academy 25 barrels of food in one day!

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

I was invited by Bryan del Valle to come out and speak at the Monterey Bay Academy on their Saturday service, obviously whenever I get a chance to speak to a large group of people about Grind Out Hunger you don’t have to ask twice. I arrived and it was a beautiful day on campus…I rolled up and saw 25 Grind Out Hunger barrels all lined up and ready to go. First thought, these guys have set a big goal. I mean I have seen most high schools not even fill 25 barrels, let alone in ONE AFTERNOON!! Brian greeted me with a big smile, a warm handshake and innumerable thank yous. Bryan mentioned before we started that he had issued a challenge to the kids, that if they filled 25 barrels he would shave his head!!! We entered the gorgeous room that was PACKED with kids from 10 different schools in town for a friendly flag football game. Bryan, myself and a few of the leaders huddled in a quick prayer and then it was game on. As we sat excitedly in the front row, I was anxious to get up and speak about Grind Out Hunger. The time came and Bryan interviewed me about why I formed GOH and what it means to me.  When I left the grounds, something inside told me these people were serious about helping Grind Out Hunger. What a way to kick off the Holiday Food Drive!!! Take a look at the pics below as they speak for themselves.