This Week's Brooklyn Calendar of Events

St. John’s Bread and Life, Brooklyn’s largest emergency food provider, will host a Pre-Valentine’s Day event to encourage those in the Brooklyn community to have a heart for hunger. Chef Abigail Hitchcock will host the fundraiser at her establishment, Abigail Café & Wine Bar, located at 807 Classon Avenue in Prospect Heights on February 10, 2010 from 6:30 – 9 p.m. Wine from Abigail’s award winning selections and hors d'oeuvres will be served. There will also be raffles for the chance to win great prizes including an espresso machine, a basket of wine and a basket of lotto tickets.

This informal 'friend raiser' and informational event will underscore the crisis of hunger in underserved neighborhoods in Brooklyn. This year 1 in 5 New Yorkers will use emergency food pantries and soup kitchens. Visits to Bread and Life are up 70% compared to last year, due to the ongoing recession. Though demand for social services is up, cash donations were down 12% in 2009.

“One of the reasons Brooklyn is so unique is our strong feelings of community pride. We’re building on that and making a concerted effort to encourage our Brooklyn neighbors to take part in what we do here in the community,” said Anthony Butler, executive director of St. John’s Bread and Life.  “Plus, as part of Brooklyn Community Foundation’s ‘Give Where You Live Campaign,’ every ticket purchased will be matched, furthering the cause to help our neighbors who are struggling.”

Every year Bread and Life delivers more than 400,000 meals and procures more than $1 million in assistance to help individuals and families combat hunger.

Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door. For more information, please visit www.breadandlife.org or call Dorothy Kellogg at 718-574-0058, ext 145.