Dessert Walk to benefit local food banks through Forgotten Harvest

By Dave Groves, staff writer

Over the last five years, the number of tri-county area residents living at the poverty level has grown by 21 percent. The total now includes more than a half million residents, and more than 200,000 of these are children.

Forgotten Harvest, a non-profit agency that provides rescued food to a network of food banks operating throughout metropolitan Detroit, is working to help people in poverty meet one of their most basic needs.

Conscious of the same challenge and hoping the Oakland University community will come together to help address it, Chartwells Food Service has teamed up with the student groups People Helping Everyone Eat Daily (PHEED) and Red Cow to present the first annual Dessert Walk for Forgotten Harvest.

The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, in Oakland Center’s Fireside Lounge. A slight variation on the idea of a traditional cakewalk, this fun and charitable contest will offer not only cakes for prizes, but cookies and pies as well.

Those interested in walking the numbered grid for a chance to win sweet rewards will be able to obtain tickets for just 50 cents each or by donating canned food items. All proceeds and collected food will be donated directly to Forgotten Harvest.

Individuals, university departments and campus organizations interested in supporting the fundraising effort can purchase desserts to be used as contest prizes. Chartwells is selling desserts at a deeply discounted rate, and will donate 10 percent of sale proceeds directly to Forgotten Harvest.

Cakes are being offered at $4 each, pies at $6.50 each and cookies at $3 per dozen. Purchasers will be acknowledged on dessert labels, which can include department or organization logos.

Those seeking more information on the Dessert Walk for Forgotten Harvest or who would like to purchase desserts to be offered as prizes should contact Jackie Gawne by phone at (248) 370-2520 or via e-mail at jacqueline.gawne@compass-usa.com. Dessert donations also can be made by using a Dessert Walk order form.