In The News

Portsmouth’s Taste of the Nation event tops $1 million

Foster’s Daily Democrat
by Roni Reino
June 24, 2010

PORTSMOUTH — Big flavor comes in small packages. Those who attended the 16th annual Taste of the Nation event at Strawbery Banke would agree that food and drink samples topped the charity night. The evening was part of a national event to help end childhood hunger and Portsmouth was able to raise its millionth dollar this year. “It’s been growing and growing each year,” Rachel Forrest of Share Our Strength Seacoast, the organization that hosts the event. This year, Taste of the Nation brought more than 700 guests under the tents at Strawbery Banke and raised $100,000. More than 70 restaurants provided samples of their menus and over 20 beer and wine purveyors were giving out tastes of their finest brews……. click here to read the entire story.

$1 million to feed the hungry

Portsmouth Herald
by Amy Bevan
June 24, 2010

PORTSMOUTH — After 16 years fighting hunger throughout the Portsmouth area, Share Our Strength Seacoast, an all-volunteer hunger relief group, reached the $1 million mark with Wednesday night’s Taste of the Nation Portsmouth, a food and wine gala held on the lawns of Strawbery Banke Museum. “We couldn’t be prouder and happier,” said Lori Decato, a founding member of the group. “We started out as a handful of people from a variety of professions who thought, if we pooled our talents and rallied our friends and neighbors, we might be able to make a difference.” The sold-out event attracted 700 guests, all coming to sample the cuisines of area restaurants and enjoy beverages from more than 20 beer and wine purveyors. A silent auction and the live music of Hush, a seven-piece band from Boston, rounded out the evening. Wednesday night’s event raised more than $130,000. All proceeds will go to Share Our Strength…… click here to read the entire story.

Fight against hunger is personal for local woman

Portsmouth Herald
by Denise Wheeler
December 29, 2009

PORTSMOUTH — Jeanette Bonham took a couple of days off from Liberty Mutual where she has worked for 34 years to attend a conference in Washington, D.C., last month. She had long hoped to be a part of this annual gathering, but her career and family had come first. Now, after years of thinking about doing this, she took a seat among the crowd in the cavernous hotel ballroom for an early morning session. Forty single mothers were seated on a stage. The first to speak described the holidays at her home where the cupboards didn’t have enough food to feed her children, and the packages under the tree were empty boxes, wrapped so no one would know her family was going without gifts. Upon hearing this, Bonham, who’d waited so long to be there, left the room and slipped into the elevator….. click here to read the entire story.

Creek Man’s icy swim inspires $5K donation

Portsmouth Herald
By Dave Choate
December 15, 2009 2:00 AM

YORK, Maine — In this season of giving, Share Our Strength’s efforts to combat childhood hunger were given a little help. A stranger staying at the Stage Neck Inn heard about Gary “Creek Man” Sredzienski’s Sunday swim through frigid waters and the effort to raise money to fight hunger, according to Share Our Strength volunteer Denise Wheeler, and decided he wanted to help out. He wandered into a show being performed by The Serfs, a band that includes Sredzienski, and left after giving the group a $5,000 check. “That was pretty remarkable,” SOS board member Celina Adams said, noting that the man supported the fact 100 percent of donations go toward ending childhood hunger for SOS…. click here to read the entire story.

A party with a purpose

The Wire
By Matt Kanner
Wednesday, 01 July 2009

PORTSMOUTH — When Bill Shore and his sister Debbie founded Share Our Strength in 1984, they knew success would hinge on their steadfast belief that everyone is capable of making a difference in the fight to end childhood hunger. Twenty-five years later, people around the nation continue to reaffirm that belief—including the 1,000 guests gathered on the lawn of Strawbery Banke Museum on the evening of June 24. The 15th annual Taste of the Nation Portsmouth raised more than $115,000 for the fight against hunger, a new record…… click here to read the entire story.

Local Taste of Nation donors give $115,000

Portsmouth Herald
By Dave Choate
dchoate@seacoastonline.com
June 25, 2009 6:00 AM

PORTSMOUTH — In a time where the need is great, Taste of the Nation Portsmouth raised over $115,000 to combat childhood hunger in the region. With child hunger the focus of the fund-raising efforts, event sponsor Share Our Strength field manager Emily Huebner said one of the Seacoast’s largest culinary celebrations broke its previous record, drawing 800 guests in a year noted more for its economic woes than the spirit of giving. She said the success of the efforts have been different in every city, but the fact that many more are struggling appears to have hit home in the Seacoast.”It’s our neighbors,” Huebner said simply….. click here to read the entire story.

National honor for SOS

Portsmouth Herald
By Dan Tuohy
news@seacoastonline.com
November 23, 2006

PORTSMOUTH — A local hunger relief group won a big honor in the Big Easy.
Share Our Strength Seacoast earned a National Committee of the Year award when Share Our Strength chapters from around the country and Canada held their annual conference last month in New Orleans… click here to read the entire story.