Grind Out Hunger

Blue Weekend Benefit Show at Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop

shawn — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:45:25 +0000

We talked to our buddies in Blue Weekend and they agreed to play a benefit show for us at Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop. We decided that we would have the entry to the event be FREE, but we are requesting that people donate to Grind Out Hunger. This event is about bring people together in support of a good cause, if we help feed kids in our community while doing it, GREAT! We will have Grind Out Hunger product available and well as some special Blue Weekend merch with proceeds benefitting Grind Out Hunger.

Feel free to bring Canned food and/or Ca$h donations to the event.

Email Shawn Hatjes with any questions or concerns.

SEE YOU ALL THERE!!!
Event details below…

Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop Presents:

Blue Weekend

February 12, 2012
6:30pm

A benefit show for Grind Out Hunger

No Cover. Donations Appreciated.

LOT F MINI RAMP will be OPEN.
(Notarized waiver required to skate. Download waiver HERE.)

To find out more about Blue Weekend visit their Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/blueweekend

To RSVP to this event check out the Facebook Event at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/377798932236934/

Win for Marissa, Win for Grind Out Hunger

shawn — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:33:23 +0000

Marissa Hushaw…this girl is ON FIRE.

First off, in case you all havent noticed, she reached her winter goal of raising $1000 for Grind Out Hunger…in fact she went OVER her goal and is currently at $1252. Thats 3,756 pounds of food! Marissa’s campaign is still OPEN.
You can help her fight hunger by donating at: www.grindouthunger.org/marissahushaw

Now, for some more AWESOME news…Marissa had her first competition of the season this past weekend. And guess what happened….SHE WON!
1st place in both Women’s Boarder Cross AND Womens Boarder GS. Big thanks to all of her friends and family that have supported her and continue to do so. We have heard many great things about the community at China Peak Mountain Resort and plan on taking a trip up there with Marissa in the near future.

China Peak Tune and Repair shop donated a portion of their tips during the competition day to Marissa’s Grind Out Hunger campaign. They ended up donating 156 pounds that day! We wanted to give a special shout out to them for their donation and support!!!
China Peak also has Marissa’s Grind Out Hunger wristbands available at various locations on the mountain with 100% proceeds going to her campaign!

Marissa Hushaw + China Peak Community = HUNGER FIGHTERS

Congratulations Marissa for your wins this past weekend!!!

Donations for Grind Out Hunger, WHAAATTT!!???

102.5 KDON Morning Madhouse – Hunger Fighters

shawn — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:03:36 +0000

Its been a crazy week at Grind Out Hunger Headquarters. We teamed up with a good friend of ours, Connor Luther, and shot some video of community members that are doing their part in the fight against hunger. Last Friday we woke up at 5am and cruised over to Salinas to join the 102.5 KDON Morning Madhouse in their studio. We were given the opportunity to film them talking about why they work so closely with Grind Out Hunger. These guys have shown up at food drives to hang out, they have given Grind Out Hunger air time and support everything that we do.

As you all can imagine, it was a crazy morning! Those guys are ridiculous. 45 minutes of filming…for a 30 second final clip! Lets just say, we got our fair share of outtakes …From Domingo forgetting his lines to Showbiz using his phone during recording, it was a blast.
Hey, whoever said fighting hunger can’t be fun!?

Big thanks to the Madhouse guys; Sam Diggedy, Showbiz, Domingo, and RickyDanny for supporting the cause.

The 102.5 KDON Morning Madhouse are Hunger Fighters….ARE YOU!?

Check out the video below and for more videos of Hunger Fighters in our community visit: TheFoodBank.Org/ThankYou

Marissa Hushaw – Hunger Fighter

shawn — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:58:34 +0000

When Marissa Hushaw came into the Grind Out Hunger Headquarters last Thursday she had no idea what she was getting herself into. We informed her that we were filming a video featuring her representing Grind Out Hunger, but she wasn’t sure what the setup was going to be like, or what we were asking her to do. When she got here we gave her a tour of the Food Bank so she could see the facility and what she is working so hard for. After the tour she was fried up and ready to get to filming. She now had a clear idea of what she is supporting and wanted to get that message out to her peers throughout Santa Cruz County.

We took her into our small conference room, which we cleared and turned into a filming studio just hours before. Lights, camera, action…we sat her down in a chair and flipped the camera on.

“Are we recording?” she asked.
“Yup.”, we responded.
“But what am i supposed to say?”
“Anything…”

She started talking freely about Grind Out Hunger and how she is stoked on helping feed kids in Santa Cruz County and beyond….we shot about 45 minutes of video and edited it down to a 30 second clip.

After recording we hung out and shot some photos. There were definitely many laughs. Working with Marissa and having her on our team is truly a blessing.
(To see more shots from the photo shoot check out the Grind Out Hunger Facebook Page )

Marissa Hushaw is a Hunger Fighter…ARE YOU?

Check out Marissa’s video clip below and to see videos of more community Hunger Fighters please visit: TheFoodBank.Org/ThankYou

KZSC 88.1 does an interview with Grind Out Hunger Founder Danny Keith

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:29:36 +0000

KZSC 88.1

Grind Out Hunger founder, Danny Keith and Grind Out Hunger Program Coordinator, Shawn Hatjes were invited by Melissa Stone to join her on her morning radio show on KZSC. They spoke about the Grind Out Hunger program, how it began and where it is going. The radio show along with info about the Grind Out Hunger program can be found below.

KZSC 88.1

With 1 in 4 children going food insecure in Santa Cruz County and over 55,000 people a month needing emergency food support, Grind Out Hunger in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County is doing everything it can to “educate and involve the community to end hunger and malnutrition”. Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County distributes over 700,000 pounds of food per month with over half being fresh fruit and produce through 200 member agencies and food for children distributions.

Grind Out Hunger was created through the vision of skateboarders helping kids overcome hunger. Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop founded Grind Out Hunger with the goal of inspiring kids to help kids; Danny Keith mentions “by going directly to the schools and talking with the kids, it has a huge impact.” Grind Out Hunger is an educational piece challenging local elementary, middle and high schools to raise food and money for hungry children in the community. Since the inception of Grind Out Hunger the youth of Santa Cruz County has collected over 1 million pounds of food for working poor families and children.

“The secret message communicated to most young people today by the society around them is that they are not needed, that the society will run itself quite nicely until they – at some distant point in the future – will take over the reigns. Yet the fact is that the society is not running itself nicely… because the rest of us need all the energy, brains, imagination and talent that young people can bring to bear down on our difficulties. For society to attempt to solve its desperate problems without the full participation of even very young people is imbecile.”quote by Alvin Toffler

Shawn Hatjes, Danny Keith and Melissa Stone on KZSC 88.1 Conciliation Sunday

Update from the Mountain: China Peak Exploding with Grind Out Hunger Support

shawn — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:43:26 +0000

We were contacted by Marissa recently with an update of her China Peak Adventures….

Marissa signed up for her CCSSS (Central Coast Ski & Snowboard Series) this past weekend. Now that she is a “big” freshman in high school she can compete at a new level. Marissa is going for Slopestyle Parks and BoarderX this season.

Her first competition is scheduled for January 22nd, 2012 with her bib # being #1 , ha! Rad!

We will be sure to fill you in with all of the competition details as they are shared with us.

China Peak ran an “Amazing Race” style contest all over the mountain this past weekend. Riders (Ski and Snowboarders) took off individually for a hunt with clues to where Nestle Chocolate milks were stashed all over the mountain top to bottom. Marissa cleaned house and brought back five of the ten (Four with winning stars on the bottom)…she won a China Peak gift card, Complete Ski/Board tune up, a Vew-Do Progression training board and a t-shirt! Way to go, Marissa!

It seems as if the news of Marissa’s involvement with Grind Out Hunger is spreading like wildfire! The China Peak Tune & Repair shop came out and said they read Marissa’s Santa Cruz community service campaign with Second Harvest Food Bank and Grind Out Hunger. They supported her 110% and offered to donate ALL of their tips this year to her goal. Marissa, being the kid hearted person she is, expressed her gratitude and explained that even just a portion of their tips would be greatly appreciated. The Tune and Repair shop now has a Grind Out Hunger sticker slapped on their window to show their support.

You can help marissa reach her goal by following the button below. Be sure to be on the look out for more updates about her fight against hunger!

Outside the Tune and Repair shop at China Peak.

Marissa building her Grind Out Hunger army…

Marissa with her winnings from the “Amazing Race” style competition hosted by China Peak.

“If You Can’t Feed a Hundred People, Just Feed One.”

shawn — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:18:45 +0000

Hey Everyone! Shawn here…

I woke up this morning, not wanting to get out of bed, so comfortable under my blankets. After laying there for a bit it finally hit me that we have officially entered 2012. A New Year. My thoughts started to take me back several years ago when I was in middle school, living on a diet of Top Ramen for about a month and living in a 1 room studio apartment with my Mom and Sister. I remember feeling like my life was never going to get better, like I was stuck in a dark place where light was unable to reach.
With the help of family and friends I was able to get out of that tough period in my life and turn things around, but it wasn’t without a great deal of self motivation and the courage to fight.

Now, years later, I am working in the non-profit world thinking of every possible way to help those that are currently in the situation that I used to be in. I know that I have the power to make a difference. I know i have the power to change the world, but I also know that I can’t do it alone.

Grind Out Hunger is first and foremost about empowering the youth, helping them realize that they CAN make a difference in the world around them. What kids and adults need to realize is that every act of kindness, no matter how small, is significant. Not only does it leave you feeling good, but it feeds hope. The hope that might be fading within the minds of those going through a tough time. This small bit of hope that each of us has the power to spread is all it takes to pick someone up and change their life.

I found this quote earlier today that is going to help me get my message across:

Not everyone can donate hundreds of dollars. Not everyone has the time to volunteer hours and hours at a non-profit. This does not mean that you can not make a significant impact on someones life. Dont feel like your quarter or your dollar donation is insignificant. We can’t walk around with the mind set that others are going to fix problems of hunger, malnutrition, homelessness for us. We cant rely on others to change the world. WE have to be the CHANGE and the only way that this can happen is if we fight this war together.

I’m forming an army of Hunger Fighters. I need YOUR help.

If you want to become a Hunger Fighter email me by clicking my name: SHAWN HATJES
OR fill out a volunteer inquiry at this link: http://grindouthunger.org/volunteer/

If you have the ability to donate money to the cause please click the button below.

If you are a kid and don’t have the ability to donate online, please shoot me an email and we can talk about how you can get your donation to Grind Out Hunger.

I Don’t Wanna Hear It – New Years Bash Raises 1100 pounds!

shawn — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:08:43 +0000

It was a rockin’ New Years for Grind Out Hunger. Local 80′s punk rock cover band, I Don’t Wanna Hear It played a benefit show/New Years Bash at Margaritaville and it was crazzzy to say the least. We packed Margaritaville with fans and GOH supporters. We had a raffle where we gave out 2 skate decks, a hat, a bunch of band merch, and more! People donated cash as well as canned food throughout the night! It was a blast and a great way to bring in the new year. We look forward to teaming up with I Don’t Wanna Hear It again in the future as well as other local bands interested in rocking out for a cause!

The show raised 1100 pounds of food for Grind Out Hunger. Not bad for a party!

Big thanks to the band for putting on an awesome show as well as donating merch money to GOH, and to Margaritaville for hosting the rockin’ party!

Enjoy a few photos from the event and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I Don’t Wanna Hear It band members include Jeff Frady, Ed Gregor, Nick Davern, Guerin Myall, and Jimbo Phillips.
Photos by: Shawn Hatjes Photography

You can see a full gallery of photos on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150454117862596.354511.101722792595&type=3

Marissa Hushaw Featured on Comcast Sports!!!

shawn — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:26:04 +0000

Its been about 3 weeks since Marissa Hushaw joined the Grind Out Hunger Hunger Fighter Army and she is ON FIRE. With the recent release of the NEW Marissa Hushaw Grind Out Hunger Wristbands, fans and supporters all over are jumping on board to help Marissa fight hunger. Recently Marissa was interviewed by Comcast Sports at China Peak Mountain Resort about her snowboarding achievements and where she plans on going with it in the future. Marissa has Grind Out Hunger stickers slapped all over her snowboard during the interview! How awesome is that!? China Peak Mountain Resort shared the video on their Facebook page referring to Marissa as ”One of [their] local snowboard superstars”.

Not only is she raising money for Grind Out Hunger, but she is helping to expose the cause to people all over the country. She has expressed to us that she wants to be involved in taking Grind Out Hunger to the next level and introduce it to other counties and states! Motivated in everything she does, Marissa is a key element to Grind Out Hunger and we are so fortunate to have her as one of our Hunger Fighters!

We have been told that the Comcast clip airs at 5pm, 6pm, and 11pm throughout the week on Comcast CAL-HI Sports – Bay Area. It is also posted on Youtube for you to watch and share with friends. You can watch the clip by playing the embedded video below.

Remember, if you want to help Marissa in her fight against hunger all you have to do is click the button below to donate OR purchase a Special Edition Marissa Hushaw Grind Out Hunger wristband! Its that easy!

“Get out there, ride, and lets Grind Out Hunger!” -Marissa Hushaw

Marissa Hushaw (Right) and her good friend Matt Winn.

Local Bands Being Recognized for Supporting Grind Out Hunger

shawn — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:34:58 +0000

Looks like people are noticing the local talent we have out in our community! We just read this letter to the editior in the Santa Cruz Sentinel about two local bands that support Grind Out Hunger; Almost Chaos AND Blue Weekend. Thought we would share this with you all and give you a little bit more info about our involvement with middle/high school bands and how YOU can get involved.

Letter to the Editor, Santa Cruz Sentinel, 12/31/11

Ever since the Fury 66 Reunion show to benefit Grind Out Hunger, GOH has been getting several requests by local bands to play benefit concerts of their own. Many of these are local middle school and high school bands, with the occasional bigger bands such as I Don’t Wanna Hear It. Grind Out Hunger is first and foremost about empowering the youth. Any band that approaches us wanting to use their music to make a difference in their community will be immediately welcomed.

Almost Chaos, a big supporter of Grind Out Hunger, which was not stated in letter to the editor above, is only one of the many bands playing music to support the cause. The members of the band are quickly moving forward in their musical careers and are supporting our cause every step of the way. These kids have immense talent and if you havent had a chance to listen to them yet, be sure to.

We recently had a benefit show at Aptos Christian Fellowship Church where several high school bands played including; Rat Trap, Bell Thieves, Funk Faction, and Otis and the Fascist Bagels. Blue Weekend was scheduled to headline this event, but unfortunately had to back out at the last minute due to a sick band member. We approached them later after the show and asked if they would be willing to play a private show at the Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop to benefit Grind Out Hunger. Amped on the idea, they said yes. We are in discussion with them about a date and time. Stay tuned for more info. You aren’t going to want to miss this show.

If you are in a band and want to arrange/chat about setting up a benefit show please send an email to: SHAWN HATJES

Happy New Years Everyone!
And ROCK ON!

Almost Chaos donating cans to Grind Out Hunger

Blue Weekend