Since I was little, I’ve always held a firm belief in that the best way to raise money is through people’s stomachs. Got a problem? A bake sale will probably solve that. There’s something about money going towards a good cause that makes stuffing your face and loading the calorie count so much more rectifiable. Dallas is rapidly growing to become one of the largest food destinations in the nation, so it only makes sense that we match our big cravings with our big hearts to help others.
More than 1 in 4 Texas children, or 1.9 million children, live in households that can’t always afford enough food for their families. Whether it’s hunger, cancer, unemployment or any one of the issues Americans are facing, DFW chefs and locals alike have made it their mission to make a change. Yes, restaurants ready their knives to become “The Best,” but that doesn’t stop chefs from pushing tables together and combining their culinary wits to support fellow Texans. Like the motto goes: “Everything is bigger in Texas,” especially when it comes to community support.
Here are a couple upcoming reasons to eat your heart out towards a good cause. Let us in on other August charity events we missed, so we can keep support high and food hangovers ongoing.
August 11
Slices of Greenville Avenue Pizza Company’s pizza are already hard to resist, but when they team up with a local charity I just can’t say no. In their second annual Slices for Supplies, GAPCo asks customers to bring in one school supply item in exchange for a slice of their cheese pizza, plus one topping. In addition, they will collect donations through the night to purchase supplies that teachers and students are in need of at the beginning of the second semester of school. All supplies and donations will go directly to the teachers at DISD’s Ignacio Zaragoza Elementary. Stuff your face and do a good deed from 6 pm to 8 pm.
August 17
Chefs For Farmers launches its 2014-2015 event season with a kick-off family-style dinner featuring three popular Dallas chefs, a BBQ afficionado, and a celebrated pastry chef. On Sunday August 17 at 6pm, Chefs For Farmers returns to Deep Ellum’s Hickory Street Annex to allow guests to overload on a coalition of some of the top food and do so amongst the cooks behind it. Chefs Matt McCallister, John Tesar, Graham Dodds, Justin Fourton and Philip Speer will each prepare a dish, and Chefs For Farmers’ partner wineries will provide wines. The ticket price of $95 is inclusive of food, wine, and gratuity. A portion of proceeds will benefit Café Momentum.
UPDATE: This event has sold out. Check the Facebook page for cancellations or for information about the Oyster bash in October.
August 29 – 31
The Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival will combine forces with Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) in a national effort to cook and distribute BBQ and solicit canned food donations for the hungry. During this Labor Day Festival, guests who bring a canned food donation will receive one dollar off general admission at the gate. Additionally, entrants in the KCBS-sanctioned BBQ competition will cook an extra pork butt to be donated to the designated charity of The Tarrant County Food Bank and 6 Stones, a local nonprofit coalition.
The barbeque society is spearheading the outreach through its 100 KCBS Meals Mission initiative, which will allow the non-profit organization to use its volunteers, judges, cook teams and event organizers to provide fully-cooked, world-class pork butts and other nonperishable food items to feed the hungry.
Gates open at 6 p.m. Fri. and 2 p.m. Sat. and Sun. A steady stream of talent will be playing on two stages at the outdoor venue across from the Bedford City Hall Complex, 2000 Forest Ridge Dr. Individual tickets and Festival packages are available here.
August 11 – 31
The Dallas chapter of Young Texans Against Cancer (YTAC) will partner with restaurants Genghis Grill and Pepper Smash to help raise money for the fight against cancer. Genghis Grill will host Bowls Against Cancer that allows diners to create original chef-made bowls including Thai Street Noodle, Khan Pao Chicken and two new bowls launching August 4, Mandarin Orange Chicken and Steak & Broccoli. All DFW locations will donate $1 to Young Texans Against Cancer for every bowl made. On the other end, Pepper Smash, located in the Shops at Legacy, can support YTAC and Smash Cancer by purchasing one of the main dishes such as the Kebabs or Chicken Tikka Masala. The restaurant will donate $1 to YTAC for every entrée purchased.
