Hi Everyone,

I knew I couldn’t go to sleep without knowing who our next president was going to be. I am in shock and trying to process our new reality. It is going to be more important than ever, for all of the global and local, grassroot organizations working on issues around hunger, the environment, sustainable agriculture and food access, to work together and become a strong force, to face the political climate we are entering into. I guess you really can’t take anything for granted.

On another note, the sign up for volunteering for our Thanksgiving Feast is moving along as planned, but we are concerned that we are not getting as many coats and winter items as usual. In addition to providing a home-cooked meal for the 600-700 guests from the River Fund Food Pantry, we have always collected coats, sweatshirts, blankets, sleeping bags, boots, hats, gloves, toiletries, and towels for them and their families. We would greatly appreciate it if you could all reach out into your communities and help us collect donations of these items for people of all ages. I would hate to show up without enough coats for everyone! In case you are not familiar with my Thanksgiving Feast for the Homeless, every year for the past 22 years, I partner with the River Fund NY, a local food pantry, to prepare and serve a homemade meal to their clients. To pull this off, I depend on the generosity of my local community, both for donations of food, clothing and money, and for the sweat equity of volunteers and their time. If you want to participate, there are still many shifts open. It is a wonderful opportunity to share the experience with your children and loved ones. Here is a link to sign up. If you want to donate money for our event, you can make a tax free donation to the River Fund, and mark the check “Thanksgiving Feast.” Their address is The River Fund NY, 8911 Lefferts Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11418. If you want to donate food, turkeys or clothing, please either email me at Bhavani@iEatGreen.com or call me at 516-238-3616 to coordinate. Every year, I look forward to the many returning faces, and the new friends I meet. I thank you in advance for your help and support!

This week, my guest on PRN is Clark Barlowe, the innovative, creative chef from North Carolina who is bringing Appalachian Cuisine into the spotlight! His dream restaurant, Heirloom, located in the Coulwood/Mountain Island Lake community of Charlotte, North Carolina, focuses on “locally sourced, globally inspired,” dishes that are inspired by his southern traditions, his training, and his travels. When not in the restaurant, Chef Clark can often be found in NC forests and fields, foraging for ingredients for Heirloom’s menu. Please join me on Thursday as we discuss the mission of Heirloom Restaurant, and learn about the ways Chef Clark is impacting his community.

Remember, my show is recorded live, every Thursday, from 10-11 am, EST.  To tune in, navigate to PRN.fm and click the “Listen Live” button on the left. Also try downloading the PRN mobile app, and take the station with you wherever you go! If you want to call in during the show with any questions for me or my guest, the call in number is 888-874-4888.

If you can’t tune in at that time, you can listen to the show in the PRN archives, or through a direct phone line to my archives. Just dial 1-701-719-0880, and you can listen to the past 5 weeks of shows! Of course you can also access the shows through my website, or through iTunes. Please “like” iEat Green’s Facebook page and feel free to rate the show and leave comments on iTunes and on my website. Thank you all for your support.

With love and gratitude,

Bhavani