‘Feast or Famine’ event raises hunger awareness

By Colleen Slater, KP News

Nearly $4,000 was collected for the Key Peninsula Food Bank at the recent Feast or Famine benefit at the Longbranch Improvement Club. Lu Smith and Wally Johnson were chefs for the evening, during which 81 people were served.

Claudia Loy, at a table with Andrea Jerabek, shows off a piece of steak the “fancy” table shared with their “rice is nice” table. Photo courtesy Vicki Biggs

Colorful soup bowls by F.I.N.E. Mudhens Karen Craven and Ginger Kryger were offered for sale, as well as generous packages of dried soup mixes donated by Ruth Circle of Longbranch Community Church. A silent auction of the “Blue Nose,” a scale ship model donated by David and Paula Wickland of Sail Classics Inc., contributed to the proceeds, too.

Tickets were sold in advance, without purchasers knowing what food they would be served. They opened their envelopes together, and 10 percent made their way to the head table, 20 percent sat at the central tables for an “adequate” meal, and the rest filled the tables along each side for their simple rice meal. This allocation represents the world population’s food supply.

The extravagant three-course dinner at the head table included Caesar salad, Black Angus boneless rib roast an inch thick and about 40 square inches in size, baked potato with sour cream, asparagus with Hollandaise sauce, herb/cheese biscuits, cheesecake with cherries, ice water, and both white and rosé sparkling cider. Good china, glassware, and cloth napkins in napkin rings set off this table as special.

The “adequate” meal consisted of a generous portion of commercial macaroni and cheese, with green beans. These folks had water, and later, coffee. They ate with regular plates and cutlery.

The “Rice is Nice” tables received a large container of rice cooked in chicken broth, with water that sat out for several hours prior to the meal. Their placemats were a half- page of newspaper and the utensils were plastic.

The head table, which included nice china and a handsome meal, is in stark contrast to the other two kinds of meals served at the event. Photo courtesy Vicki Biggs

The head table soon had a strip of barrier tape to represent a wall setting them apart. People at that table said they were uncomfortable, embarrassed, even confused with the amount of food served to them.

Jud Morris, who said he’d warned the organizers about seating him at a rice table, “led a revolt” of rice eaters, who studied the plates at the head table, and called out, “While you eat, we starve,” “Aren’t you ashamed?” “Remember the starving people!” and “Without equality, there can be no liberty,” a theme Morris, who works with families in need, often touts.

Some of the beef eaters cut their huge slice of roast and shared it with the rice tables. Morris noted later that this happened because of the close community that exists on the Key Peninsula, and the people who participated in the event. In a large city, for example, the same event would not likely bring such results.

He says this was a great event to sensitize people to the reality of our world, and a fun way to make opinions stick with the participants. It was a safe environment to “protest,” share, and to understand we should not be satisfied until the hungry masses are fed.

David Ottey from Pierce County Emergency Food Network (EFN) presented at the event. He said the local food bank is one of the sites they serve. More than 60,000 pounds of fruits, vegetables, staples, canned and frozen foods were provided by EFN last year. About 90 percent is donated by corporations, including returned but useable food.

Penny Gazabat, KPCS director, is thankful for LIC, the KP Family Resource Center and Longbranch Church for approaching her about this successful project.

Co-chair Carolyn Wiley hopes this will become an annual event, but in a revised format. “Before the guests began to arrive, Vicki (Biggs) and I were already making plans for next year,” she said.

KPCS Executive Director Penny Gazabat thanks the audience for supporting the event, which raised funds for the food bank. Photo by Hugh McMillan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vicki Biggs, one of the organizers, gives the mic to Lisa Caskin, who spoke from personal experience what was it like to use the services of the KP food bank. Photo by Hugh McMillan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EFN information For more information about Pierce County Emergency Food Network, including food bank locations and hot meal sites, visit at www.efoodnet.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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