One of the most rewarding parts of my work is seeing the impact of No Kid Hungry firsthand. Whether it’s children laughing and playing after receiving summer meals, families finding relief through SNAP benefits, or students arriving in the classroom nourished and ready to learn, these moments remind us why this work matters.
What many people don’t see is everything that happens behind the scenes to make those moments possible. Expanding access to school and summer meals, advocating for policies that support families and helping communities connect kids to healthy food all require resources, partnerships and dedication. That is why we are so grateful for the generous supporters who make this work possible.
Since the earliest days of No Kid Hungry, the culinary community has been at the heart of that support. Through events like Taste of the Nation and our No Kid Hungry dinners, chefs, donors, advocates and community leaders come together to raise critical funds and celebrate the people working every day to help feed kids.
This year, No Kid Hungry hosted culinary events in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Dallas and Chicago. I had the privilege of attending the No Kid Hungry Dinner at the historic Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., an evening that showcased both extraordinary talent and extraordinary generosity.
These events are only possible because of the culinary community's longstanding commitment to our mission. After all, chefs dedicate their lives to feeding people, and they have consistently shown up for kids and families.
The evening was made possible by an extraordinary group of culinary leaders. The dinner was chaired by chefs Erik Bruner-Yang of Maketto and Kevin Tien of Moon Rabbit, whose leadership helped bring the event to life. Guests enjoyed a cocktail reception featuring Takashi Nishikawa of Snow Crane and Preston Paine of Marigold at Keswick Hall, followed by a multi-course dinner prepared by Ian Boden of Maude & the Bear, Adam Greenberg of Sparrow Pizza Bar, Paolo Dungca and Julie Cortes of Kayu, and Fernando Gonzalez of 2Fifty BBQ. The evening concluded with a dessert reception featuring Rebekka Baltzell of Maketto, Miguel Guerra of Donisima Donuts and MITA, and Jeffrey Williams of Willowsong.
The evening also honored two remarkable leaders. Molly Hardie, Co-Chairman of H7 Holdings, LLC, received the No Kid Hungry Humanitarian Award for her commitment to ending childhood hunger. Through her annual No Kid Hungry fundraising weekend and years of support, she has helped advance our mission in powerful ways.
We also recognized Randy Herman, School Nutrition Director for Louisa County Public Schools in Virginia, for her leadership in expanding access to school meals and grab-and-go summer meals for children in her community.
Beyond the incredible food, guests participated in a lively auction led by emcee and auctioneer Billy Harris. Together, they raised funds that will help connect even more children to the healthy meals they need to grow and thrive.
What stayed with me most from the evening was seeing people from so many different backgrounds united by a common purpose. More than 40 years ago, siblings Billy and Debbie Shore founded Share Our Strength with a simple idea: everyone has a strength to share.
That spirit was on full display throughout the evening. Some people contributed their culinary talents. Others shared their resources, leadership, time or advocacy. Each person brought something unique, and together those individual strengths became a powerful force for change.
The dinner in Washington, and every No Kid Hungry culinary event across the country, is a reminder that ending childhood hunger is not the work of any one person. It takes all of us.
So I'll leave you with a question: What is your strength?
And how might you use it to help ensure that every child has the food they need to learn, grow and thrive?
Because when we share our strengths, we move one step closer to making No Kid Hungry a reality.
