Giving, Generosity and Thanks
February 24th, 2009 by craigmc
Last year, at Thanksgiving time, we were given an incredible opportunity.
Beth Hauptle from Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) asked us to document
an event in which her organization was involved in New York City.
Animal Welfare Approved is a non-profit organization that goes out into the
field and verifies the conditions under which a farm’s animals are being raised.
Earning an approval from AWA means the animal was raised humanely and in
a sustainable way, on a family farm, with animal welfare at the core of their
program. To quote Robert Kennedy, Jr., “Animal Welfare Approved is the
gold standard for how animals should be taken care of.”
AWA teamed with The Community Kitchen at the Food Bank for New York City,
Heritage Foods USA, the Greenmarket of New York City and Good Shepherd
Turkey Ranch located near Lindsborg, Kansas to provide a unique Thanksgiving feast.
On Wednesday, November 26, 2008, over eight hundred clients of the Food Bank
were fed a hot, delicious Thanksgiving banquet. The meal featured donated locally
grown, organic vegetables and humanely-raised, heritage turkeys from the
aforementioned Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch.
Work had begun two days earlier with Executive Chef Zak Palaccio (known for
his NYC restaurants, Fatty Crab and 5 Ninth) and Executive Chef David
Schuttenberg (Cabrito, NYC) helming a troop of unpaid volunteers generously
donating their time. The team peeled vegetables, ‘pre-roasted’ the turkeys and
set the stage for what was a genuine, shared experience.
Nathan Gross, Head Chef at the Food Bank, coordinated the workflow in the
kitchen as he spoke to us about the people enjoying the meal he helped prepare.
“These folks can’t afford to go to a good restaurant, but there is no reason we can’t
bring a good restaurant to them. They say to me, ‘Chef, this is delicious.’ That’s all
the thanks I need.”
It never ceases to amaze us how generous food people are with their time,
talent and energy. To learn more about this special day and the amazing people
who made it possible, click on the video below.
Posted in Chefs & Restaurants, Raising Animals | 