Father and son Eric and Sprocket Downing in the 2010 Supermarket Street Sweep. Photo by Koshi.

I've only been a resident of the Bay Area since 2006, but it's felt like home the moment I ditched my New York City zip code for the "Best Coast." One of the reasons I moved out here is because it's a mecca for folks who love the great outdoors, and as a lifelong cyclist, I can't imagine another place I'd rather live and play.

Ironically enough, it wasn't until I left New York that I heard about Cranksgiving. This is an annual food drive that's been going strong since 1999. It was originally organized by a group of NYC bike messengers and follows the "alley cat" format of street racing. Alleycats emulate a typical bike messenger's day. There is a "manifest" that lists the "checkpoints" -- rather like the multiple stops messengers make on their delivery route. During a typical alleycat, an individual stationed at the checkpoint will sign the manifest as proof that the participant came by. With Cranksgiving, the supermarkets serve as the checkpoints, and racers buy a list of groceries that goes directly to food pantries and other non-profit organizations.

Cranksgiving has spread around the country, and there are now over 30 benefit races at last count. San Francisco didn't have one in 2006, so I and a group of bike-fanatic friends launched the Supermarket Street Sweep (yes, the name is a riff on the old game show) to help the San Francisco Food Bank. The Sweep also adheres to the alleycat street race style, but there are two categories: Speed and Cargo. For the Speed category, cyclists race to supermarkets as fast as they can to buy all of the items on their list.

And in a hilly city like San Francisco, that's no easy feat. Contestants who'd like to be winning contenders are not only fit, but also possess excellent navigational skills and the ability to plot the best route just like a regular bicycle messenger. And it doesn't hurt to be able to charm your way to the front of the checkout line to expedite paying for your groceries ahead of your competitors.

The Cargo category focuses on racers bringing back as much food as humanly possible from five supermarkets around the city. (The route isn't nearly as challenging as the Speed category as the emphasis is on the amount of food competitors are able to bring back.) One notable winner in 2009, Jeremiah Ducate, brought in a whopping 962 lbs. You can watch him pedaling to victory in this video.

While not everyone is a he-man like Jeremiah, it's pretty impressive how much food folks are able to stuff in panniers, baskets and backpacks. The Sweep has raised over 20,000 pounds of food and close to $5000 in cash, which is the equivalent of 37,333 meals. And with families in California struggling in this tough economy to put dinner on the table, every can and box of food matters.

All manner of cyclists come out to support the SF Food Bank: commuters, families, amateur racers from local teams and other cycling enthusiasts. It's great to see the Bay Area community come out every year to support an important local charity while having fun. There's also an after party with a raffle and prize ceremony for the participants. The event is supported by a wonderful list of generous sponsors every year; this year there's several bike frames, trailers and other great prizes to give away to top winners.

Interested in participating in this year's event? Come out to the Claes Oldenberg Cupid's Span sculpture at Embarcadero and Folsom Streets at high noon this Saturday, December 3. No need to pre-register as participants are checked in and given directions that day. Learn more about the rules and list of what to bring on our blog.

The Supermarket Street Sweep
Saturday, December 3
Registration: High Noon at the Cupid's Span sculpture at Folsom and Embarcadero
After party begins at 6PM
Facebook: Supermarket Street Sweep
Twitter: SFStreetSweep
All proceeds benefit the San Francisco Food Bank

It's hard to think about hunger on Thanksgiving. Today most of us will be inundated with turkey, potatoes, and pie. The idea of an empty belly seems incongruous to the day itself. But for many families, it's a sober reality. In San Francisco alone, over 150,000 people lack the resources to feed themselves and their families. And as this horrible recession we're living through slogs on, more and more people -- many of whom lived middle class existences not too long ago -- are thankful today not only for their families, but for the food banks whose tireless employees and volunteers helped provide today's feast.

According to Lisa Mizokami, the Volunteer Services Manager at the San Francisco Food Bank,

"requests for food are up 20% this year over last -- and the numbers have kept climbing as we approach the holidays. Just this past Saturday, one of our community partners was overwhelmed by the turnout for holiday food. They normally serve around 400 families each week and had requested enough food for 700 for this last weekend before Thanksgiving. When 1,000 people turned up, they had to scramble to make sure as many people as possible received something. But 50 people still left empty-handed."

And Brian Higgins, the Communications Manager of the Alameda County Community Food Bank says his organization has

"referred more emergency (same-day) food in 2009 than [they] did in 2006 & 2007 combined."

The great news is that the number of people volunteering at food banks has also increased. People like you have donated time and money to allow various local food banks to meet increased demand. Yet more help is needed.

So if you're looking for a way to give back to your community this holiday season, or all year, here are some local volunteer opportunities at organizations offering food to those in need. If you know of a great program not listed here, please include it in the comments section.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Bay Area Hunger

This is a great place to get started if you're interested in volunteering at a food bank. Bay Area Hunger is a resource organization that provides information on the the many food banks in the greater Bay Area so you can easily find one close to where you live or work. They even have a map detailing where each food bank is located. Their site also provides information on donating and upcoming benefits.

San Francisco Food Bank
Twitter: @SFFoodBank

The San Francisco Food Bank is the critical link between food and people. They provide food to over 22,000 households each week through 400+ non-profit partners and will distribute 36.5 million pounds of food this year to meet an ever-growing need in our community.

How to Volunteer
Weekend food sorting shifts are full through the new year, so they are now trying to schedule remaining weekday projects through December. Evening and weekend projects are being scheduled for 2010 for those who would like to start their new year off by helping their community.

How to Donate Food
There are over 50 locations throughout San Francisco where people can drop off food.

Alameda County Community Food Bank
Twitter: @accfb

Demand at the Alameda County Community Food Bank is at an all-time high in its 24-year history. In October, their Emergency Food Helpline set an all-time record for food referrals (3,235) households for the fourth consecutive month. The ACCFB relies on donations and volunteers keep their program going, which includes distributing 8 million pounds of fresh produce this to year, nearly half of all the food that we distribute.

How to Volunteer

• Food Sorting -- Because this is a very popular time of year to volunteer, the Alameda County Community Food Bank started a program to facilitate volunteers to directly serve their 275 member agencies. Email volunteer@accfb.org for more information.
• Be an operator on the Emergency Food Helpline -- Operators refer food to more than 3,000 households every month. Bilingual reps are extremely in demand. There’s a six-month minimum volunteer requirement – one three-hour shift per week – and there’s 4-6 weeks of training involved. Email volunteer@accfb.org and write HELPLINE in the subject line for more information.
• Join their advocacy group -- Become a member of Community Advocates Against Hunger (CAAH), which meets monthly and addresses anti-hunger legislation (like improved access to food stamps). Write advocate@accfb.org.

How to Donate Food

• There are food drop-off bins set up throughout Alameda County. Many of these are at schools, churches, and grocery stores.
• You can also take part in the ACCFB's Virtual Food Drive where every $1 donated purchases $7 in food.
• Consider organizing your own Food Drive at your work, school, church or with your community group. They will supply everything you’ll need. Just call 510-635-3663, ext. 318

Glide Memorial Church
Twitter: @glidesf

Glide's mission is to create a radically inclusive, just and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization. They provide 850,000 meals a year, making Glide one of the largest free meal providers in San Francisco. Glide is also the only program in town that provides three nutritious meals to the city’s poor, homeless and hungry 364 days of the year.

How to Volunteer

• Food volunteer opportunities include serving food, toy sorting, and sorting and stacking food for Glide's Grocery Bag Give Away.
• Glide is also looking for people to participate in their professional volunteer program, including doctors and other health care providers and employment professionals.

Project Open Hand
Blog: Project Open Hand

Project Open Hand provides meals to seniors and people living with serious illnesses in San Francisco.

How to Volunteer
Prepare meals on site, sort and fill grocery bag orders, deliver food, and serve meals for seniors at their senior lunch sites.

St. Anthony Foundation
Twitter: @stanthonysf

St. Anthony Foundation has responded to the needs of poor and low-income San Franciscans for the past six decades. They serve daily meals and provide shelter and clothes to those in need.

How to Volunteer
Volunteer projects range from serving trays in the Dining Room and sorting clothes for guests to skills-based services in the Tenderloin Tech Lab, Clinic, and Social Work Center. They offer both regular shifts and special group projects designed for large or small teams

Meals On Wheels of San Francisco

Meals On Wheels of San Francisco exists to alleviate the food insecurity and loneliness experienced by seniors who want to stay in their own home but cannot shop or prepare meals for themselves.

How to Volunteer
Various volunteer opportunities are available, including being an at-home visitor for seniors who spend much of their days alone, shopping for seniors, helping with small in-home repairs, and delivering food.

Second Harvest Food Bank
Twitter: @2ndharvest

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties has been providing services to the community for 35 years. They are the single largest nonprofit provider of food to low-income households in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties and are the seventh largest food bank in the country, providing food to an average of 207,000 individuals each month. Of those they serve, 67% are families with children and 12% are senior citizens.

How to Volunteer
Volunteer opportunities include food sorting, education and outreach, food distribution, and office services.

Marin Food Bank

The Marin Food Banks provides food throughout the community, including emergency food orders for families experiencing both short term and long-term crises, bags of food for low-income seniors, and holiday food boxes for needy families during Easter, Thanksgiving, Chanukah and Christmas.

How to Volunteer
The Marin Food Bank offers various volunteer opportunities, which are listed in their web site.

What are you doing this coming Thursday? Nothing? In that case, make reservations for dinner out. In one fell swoop you can help both local restaurants and the hungry in our own community.

A maverick is someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action. True to the name, local Maverick restaurateur Scott Youkilis and wine director Michael Pierce created Dine Out Against Hunger, and organized some of the city's top venues to donate up to 10% of Thursday December 18th dinner sales to the San Francisco Food Bank, which supplies over 600 food programs throughout the city.

Maverick will also take 10% off the tab for any customers making an additional donation to the Food Bank. Perhaps you'd like to make the donation in the name of a friend or a family member? Cross another person off your holiday gift list!

What: Dine Out Against Hunger

When: Thursday, December 18th, 2008

Where: Dinners to take place at the following restaurants: Participating restaurants are: Maverick, A16, Americano, Caffe Sociale, Delfina, Foreign Cinema, Incanto, Kuleto's, Magnolia, Range, Serpentine, Slow Club, and SPQR.

How: Make reservations.

Why: If you're wondering whether hunger is a problem in our fair city, it's estimated that 150,000 San Franciscans are at risk of going hungry this holiday season. For every $1 raised during this effort, the Food Bank can distribute $9 worth of food into the community, thanks to its relationships with retailers, growers and distributors. San Francisco Food Bank’s goal is to distribute 66,000 holiday meals this season. Help make the holidays a little brighter for everyone.

If you haven't eaten at A16 in a while, the A16 cookbook should whet your appetite. Here is a scrumptious recipe from A16 Food + Wine. The recommended wine to pair with this seasonal salad is Asprinio di Aversa from Campania.

Roasted Beet Salad with Fennel, Black Olives, and Pecorino

Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:

2 bunches medium-sized red beets (about 8 total)
Kosher salt
1⁄3 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for
roasting the beets
1 1⁄2 fennel bulbs
2⁄3 cup black olives, pitted
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice,
or as needed
Block of aged pecorino for shaving

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Trim off the greens and the “tail” from each beet. (You can reserve the greens if they are in good condition and use them in the braised greens recipes on pages 230 and 232.) Place the beets in a roasting pan in which they fit snugly, and season with about 1 tablespoon salt and a drizzle of olive oil. Cover the pan and roast for 1 hour, or until the beets are tender when pierced with a wooden skewer or the tip of a paring knife. Remove the beets from the oven, let them cool just until they can be handled, and then rub off the skins with your fingers or peel them with a paring knife. Slice the beets into 1⁄3-inch-wide wedges. Cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, if still intact, cut off the stalks and feathery tops (reserve for another use) from the fennel bulbs. Cut the bulbs in half lengthwise, then cut away the core. Cut the halves lengthwise into 1⁄4-inch-thick slices. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fennel slices and blanch for about 2 minutes, or until they lose their raw bite. Drain, shock in ice water to halt the cooking, drain again, and set aside.

To make the vinaigrette, pulse the olives in a food processor until they form a chunky paste. Drizzle in the 1⁄4 cup olive oil and the vinegar and pulse briefly to combine. Taste for seasoning and add more vinegar if needed.

In a bowl, toss together the fennel and the 1⁄4 cup olive oil, coating the fennel evenly. Mix in the lemon juice and a pinch of salt, taste for seasoning, and adjust with more salt and⁄or lemon juice if needed. In a separate bowl, combine the beets and olive vinaigrette and toss until the beets are thoroughly coated with the vinaigrette.

To serve, place the beets in a salad bowl or on a platter and top with the fennel. Using a vegetable peeler, shave curls of pecorino over the salad. Serve immediately.

Recipe reprinted from A16 Food + Wine, copyright ©2008 by D.O.C. Restaurant Group, LLC, courtesy of Tenspeed Press.

Next week is the third annual San Francisco Wine. Dine. Donate dinner. It's a fundraiser for America's Second Harvest and our own San Francisco Food Bank in particular. Each year the venue changes, but it always includes a fantastic multi-course meal, a chance to meet Tanya Steel, editor in chief of Epicurious and to learn a bit about the programs of the food bank. Last year there was even a snazzy gift bag.


This year's dinner is being held at Acme Chophouse and it reunites friends and chef colleagues--Traci des Jardins and Elizabeth Falkner. Here is a sneak peek at the "From Farm to Table" menu:

Passed Hors d'oeuvres:
Tomales Bay Oysters
Craig's Charcutiere
Steak Tartare

First Course:
Cured anchovies boquerones style, squid-charred and marinated with local shelling beans and a sardine a la escabeche. Family style with Grilled Breads and marinated seasonal vegetables.

Second Course:
Spit Roasted Porchetta, Devil's Gulch Pork, Slow Cooked Kale with Lemon, Romano and Wax Beans with Tomato

Cheese:
Andanate Dairy Cheese with Breads

Dessert:
Elizabeth's Dessert olive oil crema, summer fruits (pieces of peach, and or plum) berries, pine nut streusel, and avocado ice cream with a grating of spicy chocolate

What: Wine. Dine. Donate Dinner

Where: ACME Chophouse, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco

When: Wednesday, July 30th 2008 Reception 6:15 p.m. Dinner 7:15 p.m.

How: Tickets are $125 and include a donation to America's Second Harvest The Nation's Food Bank Network. Purchase tickets.

Why: Support a cause that serves many in our own community, experience a collaboration between two great chefs and enjoy one great local meal.

More than anything, the dinner is a chance to focus on those at risk of going hungry in our community. Undoubtedly you have seen the headlines in yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle about soaring food costs and food banks "feeling the pinch." The numbers tell a sad story, in 2007 the San Francisco Food Bank served 118,000 people and today they are serving 124,000.

Here's a great recipe from Elizabeth Falkner's Demolition Desserts cookbook, that uses luscious ripe cherries. Spoon them over ice cream, cake or cheesecake.

Wine-Soaked Cherries
Makes about 1 cup

1/2 cup Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel
3 Tablespoons granulated sugar (about 1 1/4 ounces)
1 cup halved and pitted Bing cherries (about 4 ounces)
Small pinch of freshly ground black pepper

In a saucepan, combine the wine and sugar and place over medium-high heat. Heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar, for about 2 minutes or until the mixture comes to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the liquid is reduced by half, forming a syrup. Pour the syrup into a heatproof bowl and let cool for 2 minutes.

Stir the cherries and pepper into the syrup and let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Serve the cherries right away, or cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 months.

Recipe reprinted from Elizabeth Falkner’s Demolition Desserts, Copyright 2007 Tenspeed Press

The summer months are a great time for thinking about and eating all those lovely fruits and vegetables that are ripe and in season. But what if you couldn’t afford to buy cherries, peaches or watermelon, let alone milk or peanut butter? What if the rising costs of fuel and food made is so that you could no longer adequately feed your family? This scenario is increasingly becoming a reality for many people in the Bay Area (as well as nationwide), which is why our community food banks are now, more than ever, so important.

I spoke with Suzan Bateson, the Executive Director of the Alameda County Community Food Bank, so I could learn more about food banks and hunger in the Bay Area. I focused on Alameda County as it's where I live, but also because it covers such a large area. Here's what I learned:

• 1 in 3 children in Alameda County faces the threat of hunger each day
• 38% of food bank recipients have at least one working member in their family
• Calls to the Alameda County Community Food Bank are up 34% from last year
• The number of people calling in April of 2008 was 1,890, compared to 1,059 in April of 2006
• The average number of calls has been steadily increasing since last July, with each month establishing a new record
• Since the beginning of 2008, the Alameda County Community Food Bank has received 1,188 calls from people who have never called before

These statistics are disheartening, to say the least, particularly when you consider that as more and more people sign up to receive aid, less and less food is being donated by the federal government to food banks nationwide. As we've all been hearing, the crop surpluses of years past are over. Excess grains are now being used to create fuels and are also being exported to other countries. Food banks now receive 34% less donations from the USDA than in 2003 because of these changes. People are also donating less money individually to food banks as they struggle to feed their own families. The outcome is that our food banks are increasingly in need of help.

But wait, there's also some good news. Local food banks are increasingly trying to find fresh and local produce for families to eat. It's not just canned beef and creamed corn anymore. Because of people like Suzan Bateson, there is an emphasis on providing fresh produce to recipients. I was surprised and excited to hear that 50% of the foods provided by the Alameda County Community Food Bank are fresh fruits and vegetables. This is possible because of a network of local growers and distributors who provide year-round greens, sweet potatoes, and citrus to the food bank for literally pennies per item. The food bank then distributes this food to over 300 agencies, who then get it to the people who need it most. Ms. Bateson also has two nutritional experts on staff to provide information and training to help people cook and eat more healthfully.

But as great as this is, local food banks really do need your help to keep their operations running. Luckily, they are staffed with dedicated and very organized people who have come up with many different ways for you to help make your local food community a stronger and healthier place. Following is a list of some things you can do:

How to Help

• Volunteer: If you have some extra time and are looking for an opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives, give your local food bank a call. Most rely on volunteers to staff food help lines; sort food in warehouses; provide help in their administrative offices; and help plan special events.
  Volunteer in Alameda.
  Volunteer in San Francisco
• Donate: If you have some extra cash to spare, a cash donation can really make a difference. Food banks are usually able to provide around $7 worth of food for every $1 donated because of their low operating costs and agreements with local growers and distributors, so even the smallest donation can really help out.
  Donate to the Alameda County Community Food Bank.
  Donate to the San Francisco Food Bank.
• Start Your Own Food Drive: Donated nonperishable food items are an essential part of keeping any food bank going. You can help provide these materials to your food bank by collecting these goods. This is actually easier than it sounds. Just call your local food bank and ask them to deliver a bin to your office, school, church, or any place you'd like and then ask people to pick up an extra item or two while grocery shopping so they can add it to the bin. This could be a great summer project for kids.
  Start your own food drive in Alameda.
  Start your own food drive in San Francisco.
• Advocate for Change: Write or call your representative, senator, or governor about food issues that concern the poor. Too often these programs are an afterthought, but if enough people call, they will become a priority.
  Learn more about advocacy for the Alameda County Community Food Bank.
  Learn more about advocacy for the San Francisco Food Bank.

You can also support your local food banks through the following upcoming events:

Upcoming Events

Empty Bowls
Alameda County Community Food Bank
7900 Edgewater Drive, Oakland
Thursday June 5 at 5:30 – $40 for a family of four to attend or $20 a person
A great way to get your kids involved, this event allows you to select a bowl that was hand-painted by the children at Redwood Day School, enjoy a delicious soup and bread dinner, and take part in a family art project with your children. There is also a silent auction. You can register online or contact Pam Gidwani at 510-635-3663, ext. 328.

A Rockin' Night of Music
Brava Theatre
2781 24th Street (at York), San Francisco
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Rockfeeds is a group of dedicated musicians who volunteer their time and effort every year to produce a grassroots benefit for the San Francisco Food Bank. Amateur singers are challenged by their friends by way of donations to get up on stage and sing a song in front of an audience, backed up by professional musicians. To participate, donate, or to find out more information about the event, please visit the rockfeeds.org.

Family to Family Volunteer Day
Alameda County Community Food Bank
7900 Edgewater Drive, Oakland
Saturday, August 23, 9 -11 am
With an age-appropriate lesson on hunger for children 5-10 years old, an art project, and a food sorting activity, this event is a great way to inform your kids and also get your entire family involved in your local food bank Space is limited and registration required. Just call 510-635-3663 ext. 308 or email volunteer@accfb.org.

Go to Bat Against Hunger
Oakland A's Home Games
The Oakland A's have set up food bins for each Wednesday's home games. Bring two nonperishable food items to these games from June to September, and you'll receive a free ticket to a future game. Drop off your food donation before each game at food drive barrels located at the Coliseum BART Plaza and at gates C and D.

To find information on the many local food banks in the Bay Area, go to Bay Area Hunger.