If you're looking for a way to get involved with the San Francisco community this 2004 holiday season, Food Runners is a recipe worth cooking up.

Food Runners helps alleviate hunger in San Francisco by providing hundreds of restaurants, caterers, markets, bakeries, and other businesses an easy and useful way to donate their excess food.

Their volunteers pick up nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it to shelters, neighborhood food programs and other nonprofit organizations through the City.

"Everything about Food Runners is simple," says Pamela Fishman Cianci, who regularly delivers food to the homeless. She has also become such a big believer in the service, she is investing time to help market the non-profit organization.

A Simple Recipe for Success

Founded in 1987, Food Runners currently delivers more than 15 tons of perishable food per week to those who need who are affiliated with one of over 200 local agencies in San Francisco.

By offering nutritious food free of charge, Food Runners help organizations stretch their budgets during the current time of decreasing government and foundation funding.

Who Donates The Food?

Who donates the food?

* Restaurants like Greens, Rubicon, and Piperade

* Hotels like The Marriott, The Hilton, and The Ritz Carlton

* Cafes like Starbucks, Peet's Coffee & Tea and Noah’s Bagels

* Bakeries like Noe Valley Bakery, and Bay Bread Boulangerie

* Caterers like Taste and Paula leDuc

* Markets like Whole Foods, Real Foods, and the S.F. Ferry Plaza Farmers’
Market

* Conventions like the America Bar Association, and the Fancy Food Show

* Hospitals like Laguna Honda, and Kaiser Permanente

* Food photographers like Chris Shorten Photography

* Other food programs like Meals On Wheels and Project Open Hand

Christopher Smith

Singer-songwriter, Christopher Smith has been writing acoustic music and performing in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 20 years. This Sunday, October 3rd at 11am and every Sunday at this time (except Halloween), he will be performing at Book Passage in Corte Madera.

Book Passage is located at:

51 Tamal Vista Blvd.
Corte Madera, CA 94925
415.927.0960

(from San Francisco take the Paradise Drive / Tamalpais Drive exit)

Smith writes well-crafted story songs that aim for the heart.

Fusing elements of humor and sadness, his songs feature characters that are quirky, vulnerable and unforgettable.

His music is primarily based in the folk tradition, accompanying himself on fingerstyle guitar, octave mandolin, and banjo.

Christopher is especially popular with toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners. However, all ages (including adults) love him.

Smith's CD, Sweet River Grace, which was released in 2003, will be available on Sunday. It is also available here through CDBaby.

Guest musicians include: Chojo Jacques on fiddle and James Nash on guitar and mandolin (both members of the Waybacks), Michael Arrow (of the Red Hot Chachkas) on drums and percussion, John Lester on bass, and Duncan Draper on accordion and keyboard, Noah Hammond on harmonica, Peter Tracy on guitar, Lindalou and Michael Ryge on vocals, and Klaudia Prommessi on saxophone.

One customer writes: "The song Cinderella's Shoes is worth the price of the CD alone."

Christopher is currently recording material for his next solo release due by the end of the year.

Sweet River Grace makes a terrific birthday gift for kids (big and small) who love folk/blue grass/country music, and for parents looking who are looking for good wholesome tunes during road trips that the entire family can enjoy.

Smith's voice is sweet as applesauce, Granny Smith sweet.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, and sweet sounding living!

~ Jennifer King