Rock Bottom Brewery Thursday October 30, 2008: Mark Your Calendars

Mark your calendars! We're hosting a fundraiser at the Rock Bottom Brewery on Thursday, October 30, 2008 from 5 to 9 pm. We'll be selling $8 bracelets that will enable you to purchase unlimited $2 beers in the bar and restaurant. Rock Bottom Brewery is located at the Ballston Common Mall (near the Ballston metro off the orange line).

E-mail us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

Afghanistan Facing Harsh Winter: WFP Increases Aid

The harvest in Afghanistan this year will be small as a result of a harsh winter followed by a drought. As a result, one quarter of the population will be facing an extreme food shortage. To combat this shortage, WFP has increased aid from assisting 4.5 million people close to 9 million total.

However, there is no doubt that more residents are or will be in need of aid. Returning refugees and rising food costs are contributing to the shortage. Afghani leaders are concerned that food shortages will contribute to security issues and higher mortality and morbidity rates. WFP announced that last minute contributions have been rushed there in an effort to help alleviate some need before the first snow of the season fell. Attacks from insurgents and criminals have also restricted aid efforts in this area. In addition to shortages of food, there is also a shortage and need for water.

Want to know how you can help? Contribute to the WFP and check out their web site for additional details about this situation.

Spotlight on Haiti: WFP Steps Up Aid After Tropical Storms

Haiti has experienced great devastation after being hit by four tropical storms in the past month (Fay, Gustav, Hana, and Ike). Many areas are still under water and residents have been displaced from their homes without food and water. In addition to flooding, many areas have also been affected by mudslides.

WFP announced yesterday that they have tripled the amount of food being sent to Haiti in the past week. Emergency efforts were made possible by funding from the United States, Canada, Spain, and ECHO. WFP is asking the United States for an additional $54 million for food and logistical assistance for Haiti during the next 6 months. WFP has been able to provide food for 217,000 people since their relief effort began, but the need will continue until areas have been restored to pre-storm conditions.

Wondering what you can do? Tell your friends and family members about WFP efforts and the ongoing crisis in Haiti. Ask them to make contributions through the Friends of WFP web site.

Restaurant Week: Organizing Committee Meeting Tonight

We're planning the fall restaurant week benefits for WFP and we want your help and ideas. Interested in helping us organize and launch this event? E-mail us and join us for a meeting on Wednesday, September 17 at 7 pm at the Cosi next to the courthouse metro stop (orange line in Arlington, VA).
Can't make the meeting, but still interested in participating? Send us an e-mail and we'll provide you with some additional information. We'll post details about participating restaurants here.

1 minute of your time could win WFP $1 million!

Friends of WFP has just applied for a grant of more than $1 million from American Express. In order to get into the top 5 projects, American Express is looking for projects to be nominated by many people. So if everyone on staff can take one minute to follow this link and nominate our project, we will be on our way!

Please visit this link: http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/ECDACI

and click "Nominate this Project." From there you'll just have to sign up as a guest member (just name and e-mail) and you'll be able to nominate.

Thank you!

Three DC Coordinators Visit Nicaragua

DC Coordinators Mike, Devon, and Lucy are currently in Nicaragua visiting and observing field operations. We look forward to posting pictures and stories from their trip (and scheduling a meeting to hear more about it) once they return. Coordinators are invited to attend this kind of trip once each year--a life-changing educational experience to say the least. We're so excited that three of our coordinators were able to participate and congratulate them on making the fight against global hunger such a priority in their lives.

Results of the Happy Hour Benefit at Tattoo Bar

Thank you to all of the volunteers who made an appearance at our Happy Hour Benefit on Thursday, July 10, at Tattoo Bar in DC, for passing along this information to your friends, and for helping to make our gathering a success. We had approximately 60 people attend between 5:30 to 9, and we collected $334.25 in donations at the door and another $129 in bar sales (we received 10% of the sales). Thank you to the staff at Tattoo Bar for assisting us with this event and providing us with this opportunity free of charge.

We're working on planning a variety of events in the upcoming months. Be sure to check back for more information!