Corinne Foster (right) works with a Café 1500 chef on the fundraiser’s special menu item.
Most things in Corinne Foster’s life revolve around food.
She works for Feeding Pennsylvania, a nonprofit focusing on hunger relief. In her free time, she is a local food blogger.
Now, she has found a way to combine her job and hobby for a fundraiser.
Café 1500 is partnering with Foster to create a special menu item that will support both the café and Feeding Pennsylvania during the COVID-19 crisis.
“I saw the firsthand struggles of what people were going through even in our community,” she said. “I wanted to use my platform to help.”
Foster said that she was especially inclined to help because she knew what it was like to go through unemployment in the past.
As the community outreach coordinator for Feeding Pennsylvania, she has helped distribute food to local food banks facing extra pressure during the crisis.
Typically, Feeding PA’s food banks serve about 2 million people annually, but, in three months during the pandemic, they served 5.5 million, she said.
“That really stuck with me and made me want to help our community in Harrisburg,” she said.
Foster decided to use the many connections she has in the local restaurant scene through her food blogging. Her Instagram account, “Foster the Foodie,” highlights her favorite spots and encourages people to support local restaurants.
“I love being able to help people in need, and I love food,” she said.
Foster hopes that her fundraiser will inspire others to host similar events to support those struggling during the crisis.
Café 1500’s manager Patrick Hite loved the idea of supporting Feeding Pennsylvania and encouraging shopping local.
“We wanted to creatively support our community and look to really have fun with it,” he said.
With that in mind, Foster worked with Café 1500 chefs to come up with a unique meal. So, a French toast fried chicken sandwich will be the special menu item available from Aug. 19 to Sept. 6.
“Who doesn’t want to come in, have a Bloody Mary, try something off the wall, and support a good cause doing it?” Hite said.
Café 1500 is located at 1500 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website. To learn more about Feeding Pennsylvania, visit https://feedingpa.org/. Corinne Foster’s blog can be found at @fosterthefoodie on Instagram.
