Parenting Spotlight
Fighting Childhood Hunger in our Community
Tonight, over 12 million children in America will to
go bed wondering if they will eat in the morning. Colleen
Cleek, owner of The Classy Gourmet Culinary Arts Center, was
shocked to learn that there is a need to provide safe foods
for children in a country with limitless resources. As a
chef and mother, she felt a responsibility to get involved
act as an advocate on behalf of a large population of hungry
children. Utilizing her talents to benefit others, The
Classy Gourmet Culinary Arts Center located at 721 N. 98th Street is hosting its first
annual Great American Bake Sale scheduled for Saturday,
August 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Great American Bake Sale is a national
campaign spearheaded by Share Our Strength (SOS) where
participants host their own bake sale anywhere in the U.S.
from May 19 - August 31 and send their proceeds to the
organization helping other organizations in their community
end childhood hunger.
"This is a grassroots effort to fight childhood
hunger in our own community," says Cleek. "It allows people
and children of all ages an opportunity to get involved and
help others in need."
Cleek has spent much of her time as a chef expressing her
passion for the culinary arts by combining education,
entertainment and enjoyment at her center. Along with other
chefs, she offers recreational cooking class from beginner
to gourmet that range from one-on-one to private dinner
parties. Classes provide inspiration and education to learn
more about the culinary arts and the ever-increasing role
that food and wine play in our daily lives.
According to Cleek, it is their goal to increase
student’s culinary knowledge, to motivate and inspire them
to try new things, and to educate and increase public
awareness of the fine chef’s, caterers, personal chefs,
culinary clubs, and wine shops in the Omaha and surrounding
Metro area.
As part of her interest in educating others about food,
she continues to spread the importance of the limited or
uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe
foods, including involuntarily cutting back on meals, food
portions or not knowing the source of the next meal.
According to the Share Our Strength website, this is known
as "at risk of hunger". Includes categories of "low" and
"very low" food security, indicating degrees to which food
intake is reduced or normal eating patterns disrupted
because of lack of money and other resources for food.
Nearly 16% of U.S. households with children are food
insecure at some point during the year.
"Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale offers a
simple way for you to bond with your family, friends and
neighbors and teaches children the valuable lesson of
philanthropy," says Cleek. "91% of bake sale proceeds raised
will stay right here in our own community."
With the help of other people that are as passionate
about children’s welfare as much as she is, Cleek has faith
that the Omaha community has the power to end childhood
hunger locally. She also believes it is important to get
children involved by having them pitch in and donate baked
goods for the sale because they are learning the importance
of helping other children. In fact, she has encouraged her
children to become involved and she has even taken her
daughter to conferences hosted by SOS.
"During a conference in Washington one year, with my
daughter by my side, we supported SOS by marching on behalf
of the organization’s interest in helping hungry children,"
says Cleek. "Her experience has really opened her daughter’s
eyes that there are children out there who don’t have
breakfast, lunches, and sometimes, dinner every day."
Cleek is hopeful that schools, families and other
organizations such as Girl Scouts will donate baked goods to
be sold at the bake sale. Shoppers can expect to choose from
several packages of sweets such as brownies, cookies,
muffins, oatmeal bars, cinnamon rolls, pies and cakes. Most
everything for sale will be shelf stable, so the food will
not need to be refrigerated. Pricing will vary with slices
costing on average of $2 to $3. Additionally, there will be
whole pies and cakes for sale so an entire family can have
their own piece. Cleek noted that she will be selling her
famous tasty lowfat cheesecake that is 310 calories per
slice. With each package of sweets, there will be a tag
attached with information on how to support the fight
against childhood hunger.
"We want to promote the fact that kids need to be healthy
and strong, but everyone deserves something sweet every now
and then," says Cleek.
The bake sale will be promoted online through
www.strength.org and www.gabs.strength.org where there will
be more information and facts regarding childhood hunger in
the United States. Additionally, people that cannot attend
or donate to the sale can contact Cleek at 955-COOK or visit
www.theclassygourmet.com to find out how to get involved in
future events.
"It’s hard to take on the world, but The Classy Gourmet
and SOS want to do their part to make an impact on childhood
hunger."
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