CHEF’S GALA T

he 15th Annual Chefs’ Gala and Auction was held October 10 at the Ramada Inn in Fargo. The event brought together the FM Area’s top chefs to celebrate food, and raised over $50,000 to support Daily Bread, a perishable food recovery program serving Cass and Clay counties.

The fundraising event included live music and a silent auction featuring an array of local art, getaway packages, restaurant and entertainment packages, fine wines, and several Caribbean vacations. Guests were invited to stop at each chef’s table to sample food prepared onsite for the gala.

Daily Bread touches the lives of more than 23,000 children, seniors and working families every year who are hungry or at risk of hunger. Food from unserved meals is collected daily from area restaurants, hotels, caterers, schools and hospitals. Supermarkets donate surplus quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, baked goods and deli selections that are still wholesome and nutritious, but are nearing the end of their shelf life. “Without our food industry donors, the program wouldn’t be possible,” said Marcia Paulson, Director of Marketing and Development for Lutheran Social Services.

Collected food is delivered to over 40 charitable feeding programs, including food shelves, homeless shelters and soup kitchens that provide hot meals and/or food baskets in our local communities. The program provides 2 million pounds of food a year, or 1.8 million meals, Paulson said. [AWM]