It's that time again!!! Menu for Hope V!

The 2008 Menu for Hope charity event starts today!  I spent some time browsing through all of the wonderful prizes that are available and it made me hungry and thirsty!  Now it's time to narrow down the list and put my money where my mouth is! 

Here is Pim's explanation of where the money will go this year, for full details see her wonderful site at www.chezpim.com.

This year for the 5th annual Menu for Hope, we are again supporting the UN World Food Programme.  WFP is the world’s largest food aid agency, working with over 1,000 other organizations in over 75 countries. In addition to providing food, the World Food Program helps hungry people to become self-reliant so that they escape hunger for good.

With a special permission from the WFP, the funds raised by Menu for Hope 5 will be earmarked for the school lunch program in Lesotho, Africa.  We chose to support the school lunch program because providing food for the children not only keeps them alive, but helps them stay in school so that they learn the skills to feed themselves in the future. 

We chose to support the program in Lesotho because it is a model program in local procurement - buying food locally to support local farmers and the local economy.  Instead of shipping surplus corn across the ocean, the WFP is buying directly from local subsistent farmers who practice conservation farming methods in Lesotho to feed the children there.

We feed the kids, keep them in school, and support their parents and community farming.  This sustainable approach to aid is something we believe in and strongly support.

As for La Gramière we are happy to participate again this year with another great day of work in the vineyard or at the winery!  As you saw just about 6 weeks ago Kate McWiggins and George Hingston came all the way from New Zealand to spend a beautifully sunny fall day toiling along with Matt and I in our Roussanne vineyard! Emma Buls the winner in 2006 has yet to make the trip but it's never too late, I specifically didn't put an expiration date on this prize so that you have ample time to make your travel plans.  I promise, whenever you come, we'll make it a day to remember!

 I know, many of you are thinking that with the current economic climate it's not really the best time to be planning a trip to France, but you're wrong!  The value of the Euro has fallen more than 20% in the last few weeks, so it's actually going to be cheaper now than it was earlier this year!  Here's the full details, make sure to visit Vinography and Chez Pim for full details on all of the prizes.

Labor of Love - a day in the vineyard at La Gramière. Courtesy of La Gramiere - Prize Code: WB 15

Planning a trip to southern France?  Why not spend a day learning what it’s really like to own a vineyard or work in a winery!  Depending on the time of year you visit, we could be pruning, plowing, picking grapes, bottling, making wine or even selling it. Our vineyards, located at the foot of the medieval village of Castillon du Gard in the southern Rhône valley, are the prefect place to enjoy a day of (very rewarding) manual labor. To celebrate your accomplishments we will prepare a gourmet dinner for you and your fellow workers at our house!

Locally grown products will grace the table and all courses will be paired with the best our local winemakers have to offer. We will taste wines from all around the southern Rhone, not just La Gramière, and you (the winner) will be paid for your hard work with 6 bottles of the current vintage of La Gramière.  Now all that's left for you to do is plan a trip to Southern France!

(Note this prize does not include airfare, transportation or lodging, just a day of good hard work, great food and great company!

Donation Instructions:

1. Choose a prize or prizes of your choice from our Menu for Hope at http://chezpim.com

2. Go to the donation site at http://www.firstgiving.com/menuforhope5 and make a donation.

3. Each $10 you donate will give you one raffle ticket toward a prize of your choice. Please specify which prize you'd like in the 'Personal Message' section in the donation form when confirming your donation. You must write-in how many tickets per prize, and please use the prize code.

For example, a donation of $50 can be 2 tickets for EU01 and 3 tickets for EU02. Please write 2xEU01, 3xEU02

4. If your company matches your charity donation, please check the box and fill in the information so we could claim the corporate match.

5. Please allow us to see your email address so that we could contact you in case you win.  Your email address will not be shared with anyone.

Comments

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[Rethabile]

Thank you, on behalf of the children who will receive this gift. Merry Christmas to you, and a happy 2009.