PIE DAY 2015: Stop by Farragut Square on 11/4 for a Bite

FREE LUNCH TIME PIE TASTING FOR A GREAT CAUSE!
Food & Friends to Hold Pie Day in Support of Slice of Life
Wednesday, November 4, 2015

WHAT
Food & Friends will be hosting a community Pie Day in support of its annual Slice of Life Pie Selling Campaign, which funds nutritious, home-delivered meals and groceries to the critically ill in our community, on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at Farragut Square. During the event, Food & Friends will be distributing information about Slice of Life and giving away FREE samples of our delicious pies!

Community members will also have the chance to cast their vote for Apple Pie vs. Pumpkin Pie! The winning pie of our "In Pie We Crust" election will go on a flash sale for the remainder of the afternoon. Everyone who votes will be entered into a drawing to win a full Thanksgiving dinner for five plus two pies that are for sale to raise funds to support Food & Friends mission.

WHEN
Wednesday, November 4th from 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

WHERE
Farragut Square, K St. and 17th St. NW, Washington, DC

DETAILS
The 9th Annual Slice of Life Thanksgiving pie sale is a simple and delicious way for members of the public to support Food & Friends’ large-scale effort to deliver 1 million healthy meals this year to those in the community living with life-challenging illnesses. The goal this year is to sell 9,000 pies. Each pie purchased will provide ONE FULL DAY of meals for a Food & Friends client.

Pies may be purchased directly from Food & Friends or through one of our corporate or individual pie sellers. Visit www.foodandfriends.org/pie or text PIE to 51555 to find a directory of pie sellers, to sign up to help sell pies or to purchase pies online. Pie sales close on Thursday, November 19th. Pre-purchased pies can be picked up on Tuesday, November 24th at Food & Friends or more than 30 convenient CVS/pharmacy locations throughout the region.

WHO
The entire downtown DC community is invited to spend their lunch break tasting and voting for their favorite pie!

Living with HIV/AIDS: 30 Thanksgivings Later, Anthony Has Much to Be Grateful For

This month, Anthony Seymore celebrates his 30th Thanksgiving since being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and given six months to live. He credits Food & Friends’ home-delivered meals with helping him get to this day.

“I need to eat certain foods to stay alive,” he says. “I contacted other organizations, but there were waiting lists and red tape. At Food & Friends, I know what I’m getting and know that it’s good for me – and that gives me peace of mind.”

From his home in Arlington, Virginia, Anthony reflects on that moment three decades ago when a physician delivered the news to the then 25-year-old. “In those days, an HIV/AIDS diagnosis was considered a death sentence,” he says. His family doctor wasn’t helpful. “He told me to go home and pray,” Anthony recalls.

Six months and a day after he got the news, his mother called him. “You’re still alive,” she said.” You’re going to be alright.” With encouragement from his parents, he graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in business administration before moving from Richmond to the Washington area. In the District, he worked for 10 years at the U.S Department of the Interior before taking on a series of jobs with national retailers.

The past 30 years have included a number of health challenges, including diabetes, pneumocystis pneumonia (an infection common in people with weakened immune systems) and a ruptured heart valve.

Yet, throughout the years, Food & Friends has been there with home-delivered meals when he needed them. He marvels at how the meals have changed over the years, just as our understanding of nutrition has evolved. In the early days of the disease “the focus was on putting muscle and fat on you, so you wouldn’t waste away,” he says. Originally referred to Food & Friends in the late 1980s by the staff of Whitman-Walker, Anthony recalls deliveries of cheeseburgers, club sandwiches, and fruit juice.

Today, clients are referred to Food & Friends by their physicians for customized meals – designed by registered dietitians and professional chefs – that are both nutritionally balanced and tasty. In Anthony’s case, the meals are heart-healthy and created to address his diabetes. He is especially fond of the chicken with green beans and seafood platter.

Then there’s Thanksgiving dinner – Anthony’s favorite meal going back to his childhood. The Food & Friends delivery brings back fond memories of holidays spent at his grandmother’s – with its roast turkey, collard greens, sweet potatoes and apple pie. The only thing missing, he confesses, is the chitlins. (His doctor has given him permission to add them to the table. But only once a year!)

WATCH: Handmade Pies Baked Just for You!

The world has tried to simplify baking. You can buy a roll of cookie dough, make brownies and cakes from a box, and pies can be whipped up by dumping canned filling into pre-made crust.
These shortcuts are never used at Baguette Republic, an artisan-bakery located in Sterling, Virginia. We are fortunate and excited to have Baguette Republic baking their homemade pies for our Slice of Life pie sale again this Thanksgiving.

Made from the Best

Master Baker and President of Baguette Republic Dahmane Bernarbane is originally from Algeria. He bakes using European techniques and traditions. “We try to do everything the old fashioned way, using the best ingredients.” Bernarbane says.

All five of the pies available this year begin with a crust the bakers make from scratch, prepared by skilled workers, not just machines. Each crust is rolled out, cut and pressed in a pan by hand and the fillings are made from scratch with fresh ingredients. Despite the volume of products the bakery makes daily, each creation is made with care and attention to detail.

“There are no preservatives ... no cans. It’s like a pie made by your grandma seventy years ago.” Bernarbane promises.

Be Part of the Cause

Buying one delicious pie can make a huge difference. The purchase of just one pie through Slice of Life is enough to deliver one full day of meals to a Food & Friends client and help to provide a Thanksgiving meal for five. You can be sure that any pie you order through Slice of Life will reflect the love and care put into making it.

“It’s an honor and a pleasure for us to be part of this big Food & Friends adventure by serving the best goods to the Washington DC community. I’m sure you’re going to like it,” Bernarbane says, “because I like it myself.”

What's Thanksgiving Without Pie? Buy, Sell, Donate, Help!

Now in its 9th year, Slice of Life has become a tradition throughout the Washington region. During this holiday season, pie teams and sellers, hundreds of volunteers and the community, will all come together to ensure that our neighbors facing life-challenging illnesses enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.

Slice of Life is a community-based fundraiser that encourages supporters to purchase their holiday pies through Food & Friends. Every pie purchased provides one full day of meals for a Food & Friends client – community members battling HIV/AIDS, cancer or another critical illness. These meals not only provide vital nourishment, but hope and comfort in their time of need. This holiday season, there is really no easier way to make a difference.

ABOUT THE PIE
Baguette Republic, located in Sterling, Virginia, is a traditional wholesale bakery producing a large variety of artisan breads, cookies and pastries using the best European techniques and tradition. We offered their pies to supporters last year and received RAVE reviews! We know their pies will be the perfect addition to your holiday table.

This year, we need your help to make Slice of Life a huge success by selling 9,000 pies - we are offering five delicious flavors: Homemade Apple, Spiced Pumpkin, Oh So Sweet Potato, Southern Pecan and the American Airlines Sky Pie – a chocolate amaretto brownie with almonds and powdered sugar.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP
Pie Sellers are needed to spread the word about Slice of Life and help sell more than 9,000 pies to support our clients this holiday season. Sellers receive a webpage for collecting sales and donations, tips, email content and graphics for social media. You can sell as an individual or start a team.

Buy a pie, or two, for a Food & Friends client and we'll deliver it with their full holiday meal on Thanksgiving Day. Within the shopping cart, just select "Pies for Food & Friends Clients."

Simply order your pies online, select one of our convenient pick up locations, pick up your pie on Tuesday, November 24th, and enjoy!

More than 2,700 people who face remarkable challenges depend on Food & Friends each day, 6 days a week. Food & Friends' staff and volunteers will deliver more than 1 million meals this year and help bring holiday cheer to those who need it the most. We’re hoping that you will lend your support and a small amount of your time – all you have to do is buy a pie. Place your order at www.foodandfriends.org/pie