Celebrate Barbecue and Fight Hunger at the Culinary Center of Kansas City

Nearly 1 in 4 American children struggles with hunger. One national organization that fights this problem is Share Our Strength, a nonprofit whose mission is to end childhood hunger in the United States. A big component of their fundraising efforts is the Great American Bake Sale, in which people from across the nation create and sell sweet treats with 100% of profits going directly to this charity.

On Saturday, May 1, the Culinary Center of Kansas City, in Overland Park, Kansas, will hold its first annual Great American Bake Sale in conjunction with its first annual Festival of Smoke, a quintessential barbecue event that will run from 8:30 to 2 and feature smoking and grilling education, competition among Culinary Center chefs, a make-your-own-rub station and, loads of great barbecue plus fixings and much more.

When you're ready for dessert, or a sweet treat to take home, visit the bake sale. In 2009, Great American Bake Sales held across the nation raised more than $1,220,000 to fund after school and summer feeding programs for children, and support Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline®, a chef-led nutrition education program for low-income children and families.

Here are nine more reasons to hold your own Great American Bake Sale:

12.6 million…American children wonder if they will eat in the morning

13%…of American families with children under six years old face hunger

50%…of American food stamp recipients are children

60%…of requests for emergency food assistance come from American families with children

89%…of low-income American children who receive school lunches do not receive regular meals during the summer

One…summer of poor nutrition will seriously impair a child’s ability to learn

1 in 3…Americans who stand in a soup kitchen line are children

1 in 5…American households with children live at risk of hunger

1 in 10…American households lack access to enough food

You'll have a wonderful time, eat some amazing food and support a great cause during the Culinary Center of Kansas City's Festival of Smoke and Great American Bake Sale.

*Lisa Waterman Gray is a part-time employee of the Culinary Center of Kansas City