To help shine a spotlight on the thousands of hungry who live in Westchester County, the Food Bank for Westchester is hosting a first-of-its-kind event April 24 called Food for Fashion.
More than 1 in 5 children in the county, as well as across the nation, are underfed.
Nearly 16 million children in the U.S. live in households that do not provide enough nutritious food, according to information gathered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
With such harrowing statistics, the Food Bank, along with Westchester Community College, Southern Westchester BOCES Center for Career Services and The Tech Center at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES, are taking part in a special fashion show that utilizes the young designers in their respective programs to make a “fashion statement” using food products and packaging.
“For many, fashion and food might make for an unlikely pair, but we are happy to hold the first-ever fashion event in the Food Bank for Westchester headquarters,” said Ellen Lynch, executive director, Food Bank for Westchester. “Our team does so much to raise awareness of the issues hungry Westchester County residents face, but there are still many who don”™t fully comprehend the magnitude of the obstacles thousands need to overcome in eliminating food insecurity. That”™s why I hope the people who attend this event will walk away with an understanding of what the Food Bank does.”
Judges for the event are fashion designer Rolando Santana; Catherine Cioffi, associate director of public relations at Mercy College; Mary Jane Denzer, owner of Mary Jane; and Ravi S. Rajan, dean of the School of Arts at Purchase College.
Presented by the Westchester County Business Journal, sponsors of the event are Fortina restaurant, Culin & Colella, GS&S, Calico Corners and Deutsch Family Wines & Spirits. Moderating the show will be Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson, partner, Thompson & Bender.
The event will be held at Food Bank for Westchester, 200 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more information and reservations, call Holly DeBartolo at 914-358-0743.
