Avenue Wine Shop Already Collecting Food for World Food Day

I got a call today from Teresa at the Avenues Wine Shop to update my on her progress for the One World Everybody Eats Challenge. They have already posted their flier and a empty box and have received 5 cans of food for their favorite local food pantry! I was thrilled!!

Avenue Wine Shop is located at 1728 Cleveand Avenue, Canton, Ohio.

Avenue Wine Shop Rating, Updated

Community Rating * * * * *

Food Waste Reduction * * * * *

A Surprise Visit in Canton, Ohio

Today there was a knock on the back door and our neighbor Mr Nuskie had walked over with a basket of his homegrown tomatoes!! This was such a friendly thing to do. It's nice to live in an area where we still walk over with extra produce and keep an eye out for each other. Right now we are already passing the tomatoes around to other friends.

Mr Nuskie's Rating

Community * * * * *

Food Waste Reduction * * * * *

Avenue Wine Shop Signs Up For The One World Everybody Challenge in Canton,Ohio

I was in Canton, Ohio today ( my home town) and stopped by Avenues Wine Shop. This is a great little wine shop locally owned by Theresa and Anthony Antoniades. They specialize in carrying local wines and in promoting community by featuring these at selected wine tastings throughout the year.

They are excited to participate in our Challenge on World Food Day(October 16th) and although they are not a restaurant they will give away something that day to raise awareness to local food insecurity. They will select a local food pantry and collect funds and food donations for them that day maybe even all week long!!

AVENUE WINE SHOP RATINGS

COMMUNITY * * * * * (5 stars)

FOOD WASTE REDUCTION - unrated

(based on a * - ***** star rating system)

Very Skinny Sweet Potatoes and a great 'Stuff a Truck' program at Hy-Vee !!

While in Omaha, Teresa Vaughn and I stopped at a grocery store called Hy-Vee in the Millard district.
When we entered the store we were greeted by many brown grocery bags that you could purchase. A friendly employee came over and explained the 'Stuff a Truck' program. You can pick up a stuffed grocery bag for a $5 or $10 amount and this would go onto a truck and once that truck is filled it will be delivered to a local food pantry. Teresa and I each choose a $5 bag. I liked the program because it kept things easy, affordable and local. Of course I think we would have liked to see some fresh produce go into those bags, but given the nature of the application, it would not have worked. I give a full round of applause to the effort the store made to present the event and support it!!

While we were shopping I ran into the skinniest sweet potatoes I have ever seen. I just had to take a picture of them!! I did not ask about their origin etc.. now I wish I had so I coud let you know. Now that I am blogging I promise to go the distance next time!!!

They also had organic sections of produce and supplies.

Hy-Vee is located at 14591 Stony Brook
Omaha, Nebraska 68137
phone: 402 697 0811 email: 1466director2hy-vee.com

HY-VEE'S RATINGS

COMMUNITY - * * * * * (5 stars)

FOOD WASTE REDUCTION - UNRATED

( based on a * - ***** rating system)

The First Participant in Omaha for the One World Everybody Eats Challenge!! The Benson Grind

Allan Zeeck, the proprietor of the Benson Grind has signed up for the One World Everybody Eats World Food Day Challenge and has decided he wants to give away free coffee and donuts on October 16.

The Benson Grind is a charming/hip/community type shop that serves food as well as assorted coffee drinks. I had a frozen cappachino and some of Teresa's frozen mocha esspresso drink. Allan made sure to keep topping us off from the leftovers in the blender. ( I really appreciated his "no waste" attitude and the way he spent time chatting and sharing his views about the welfare of the Benson district. Benson is known right now for its incredible night music scene, but daytime attractions need to be developed.

I say a 'community hot spot' because while we were there Allan's neighbor ( a very nice older woman in a floral 50's house dress) brought in green peppers from her neighbors garden. She said she "stole them" because they are out of state right now!!! Allan had made extra bean soup that he had waiting to give her too. It was so sweet and I immediately felt part of this little community and will take that away with me in my heart, even though I was only there for less than an hour, the connection will last forever!

The Benson Grind is located at 6107 Maple Street Omaha, Nebraska

in what is called the Benson District.

BENSON GRIND'S RATINGS

.

COMMUNITY * * * * * (5 stars, an extra hats off, over the top!!)

FOOD WASTE REDUCTION * * * * *(5 stars, went the distance!)

( based on a *-***** star rating)

Denise in the community of Omaha,Nebraska and lunch at Stokes in Old Market

I was recently in Omaha assisting Teresa and David Vaughn to organize a community planning committee for their future community kitchen. Omaha is a wonderful area, friendly people with great little niche areas. This is a picture of Teresa and Carissa Vaughn while we were at lunch at Stokes in the 'Old Market' district of Omaha. The staff at Stokes was very friendly and did not mind one bit that we shared an appetizer and a meal 3 ways. We also had a side of chips and different salsas and guacamole. We ran out of chips and asked for "a few more" to be able to finish the dips and wound up with way too many chips!

Old Market is one possible location for the new Omaha kitchen, which will be called Collaborative Cafe!

STOKES RATING

COMMUNITY * * * * (4 stars)

FOOD WASTE REDUCTION * * * * ( 4 stars)

( based on a *-***** star rating system)