Join Walt's Team! Help Cure Blindness

It's too late for me to see, but there are millions of others who might
see again or see for the first time. And you can help make that possible
by supporting VisionWalk 2010 in Kansas City. It's a fund-raiser for the
Foundation Fighting Blindness and I'm pleased to be honorary walk
chairman of the walk, June 26th. Please join my team! Here's how:
http://www.fightblindness.org/goto/Bodine

Kansas City Restaurant Week

Great Meals - With Benefits

The first metro area event of its kind, Kansas City Restaurant Week offers diners an eclectic selection of multi-course fixed price menus at participating area restaurants. At just $15 for lunch and $30 dinner, this is a unique opportunity to sample the finest fare Kansas City has to offer.

 A creation of the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association and the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association, the program benefits the Harvesters food bank, which provides hungry people with over 60,000 meals weekly across a 26 county area surrounding the metro. 10% of the proceeds will be donated to Harvesters. According to Ellen Feldhausen, Harvesters Director of Communications, every dollar donated lets them provide 5 meals through local food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, and more. So while you're enjoying dinner, you're also helping to feed 15 people.

When you look at the list of more than 100 participating area restaurants and check the individual offerings, it's immediately clear that you can enjoy an amazing array of fine meals at quite a fine price. 

Restaurant week runs today through January 31st. Reservations are suggested since venues are filling up fast in response to this marvelous opportunity. The sponsors suggest using the free service provided by  Open Table to make reservations.

Bon appetit!

CANstruction - Where Dinner Meets Design

You shouldn't miss the new CANstruction exhibit benefiting Harvesters at Union Station, now through February 10, where 16 teams of architects, engineers, and contractors compete for national bragging rights by creating fantastic structures - made only from cans of food, and non-perishable food items. Admission to the exhibit is free.

The international competition created by the Society of Design Administration, an affiliate of the American Institute of Architects,.is a global anti-hunger project. Locally the exhibit benefits Harvesters, The Community Food Network. After the exhibit closes, the cans are donated to Harvesters.

According to Ellen Feldhausen, Harvesters' Director of Communications, the 16 structures in this year's exhibit are composed of 63,000 cans. Last year more that 33,000 pounds of food were donated,. the equivalent of 27,000 meals.

The winning entries selected by a panel of judges are pictured below by category. According to Ms. Feldhausen, the winners become eligible to compete in a national competition. She tells us that besides bragging rights, "the teams are very committed to what they're doing. They're excited, it's fun, it's creative, but I think they understand that they are helping to feed hungry people."

There is also a "People's Choice" award. Visitors to the exhibit can vote for their favorites, and Harvesters is asking a $1 donation per vote. You can also go to the Harvesters website and view all 16 exhibits, and vote for your favorite. Your vote is important because every dollar allows Harvesters to provide 5 meals.

Click here to see all 16 entries and vote in the CANstruction People's Choice competition.

Click here to learn how you can support Harvesters through donations of food, money, and time.

Congratulations to the 2010 CANstruction winners!

Click the photos for a larger image.

“Wedge Out Hunger,” by ACI/Boland, Structural Ingenuity award. The pineapple is constructed of cans of black eye peas, corn, pineapple chunks and kraut.

“War(hol) on Hunger,” by BRR Architecture, Best Use of Labels award. Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe is composed of cans of 11 different kinds of tuna and one kind of salmon.

“Garden is Where the Gnome Is,” by Gastinger Walker Harden Architects, Jurors’ Favorite award. The gnome is constructed of cans of tomato sauce, tuna, corn and pork&beans.

“Jump on the POPsled,” by Populous; Honorable Mention. The full scale bobsled is made out of 2,500 cans of sardines.

“Souper Spud,” by Black&Veatch, Best Meal award. This giant Mr. Potato Head is made out of cans of pinto beans, tuna, pineapple and packages of ranch dressing and taco seasoning.

Check back soon for more on local events which support Harvesters. Up next: Restaurant Week.