[cross post from The Londoner]

http://www.heart-links.org/foodfusion/

Enjoy great fusion food, in support of a great cause

Posted By Jennifer Sproul, Special to The Londoner

Posted 2 days ago

Over one billion people worldwide do not have access to enough healthy, nutritious food.

This Feb. 18-28, various restaurants in and around London will spotlight this problem while participating in Food Fusion, a charitable event put together to raise funds and awareness for world hunger.

Restaurants participating in Food Fusion will offer a special three-course fixed price menu ranging from $15-$25 for lunch or $20-$30 for dinner. Proceeds from this inaugural year will go to Heart-Links, hoping to raise $8,000-$10,000 to help fight world hunger.

Since 1994 Heart-Links, a small London non-profit, has been working to reduce world hunger. This non-profit was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph after living for 32 years in Northern Peru sharing in the Peruvian people's struggle to live, work and grow. Heart-Links is staffed entirely by volunteers, and managed by an active and dedicated board of directors.

Janet Loebach has been with Heart-Links for over three years, and is currently serving on the board of directors.

Ms. Loebach's most memorable moment working with Heart-Links happened in the office one day.

"We had just written a fundraising letter, highlighting one of the women in Peru who is a family worker that administers the local programs," Ms. Loebach says. "A letter arrived, from the woman herself – thanking us for our efforts, telling us how much our contributions, even the most modest by Canadian standards, are making incredible difference in the lives of women and children in Peru."

Approximately 53 percent of the Peruvian population lives below the national poverty line and 25 percent live in extreme poverty. Over 24 percent of children under five are chronically undernourished. In rural areas such as northern Peru, rates can reach up to 70 percent.

Partnering with organizations in Northern Peru who work with the most at risk local people, identifying needs and implementing programs funded by Heart-Links.

The most prominent project is the funding of three commodores (soup kitchens). The commodores serve not only to feed the most at risk children in the community, but they are also a form of empowerment for the mothers who run them.

Mothers receive training in self-esteem, budgeting, nutrition, planning menus and buying food. All of them are involved in decision-making and determining the future of the commodores.

"We are not an aid organization," Ms. Loebach says. "We believe in a participatory, bottom-up approach to work directly with communities and local grass roots organizations to identify their own needs, priorities and opportunities, supporting their efforts to become self-sufficient and empowered."

Heart-Links is making a difference, Ms. Loebach says, adding that in one year over 35,000 meals were served, and 50 women were trained in nutrition, enabling them to carry on the vital role of feeding the hungry in their communities.

Heart-Links is also responsible for implementing programs to support the non-violent treatment of women and children.

Jennifer Sproul is a student in the Corporate Communications and Public Relations program at Fanshawe College.

Want to know more?

For the list of participating restaurants and menus go to http://www.heart-links.org/foodfusion/