Food and Friends to hold “Pie Day” heading into last week of “Slice of Life” fundraiser
Regardless of the outcome of today’s midterm elections, D.C. area residents will get a chance to cast ballots again this Thursday: for the best pie.
Food & Friends will host a community “Pie Day” to promote its 12th annual “Slice of Life” pie sale, which directly benefits the organization’s client services. Food & Friends provides nutrition counseling, groceries and pre-prepared meals to D.C.-area people suffering from ailments like cancer, HIV/AIDS, or other life-threatening illnesses.
This year, the campaign hopes to sell 9,000 pies, in the hope of providing close to 30,000 meals for neighbors in need.
As part of promoting the ongoing pie sale — which runs through Nov. 15 — Food & Friends will hold its annual “In Pie We Crust” competition on Thursday, Nov. 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Farragut Square in downtown D.C. Passerby will have a chance to taste-test free samples of apple and pumpkin pies, courtesy of Baguette Republic, and cast ballots for which flavor should be named the winner. Everyone who votes on Thursday will be entered into a drawing to win a full Thanksgiving dinner for four, plus two pies.
The winner of the “In Pie We Crust” election will go on a flash sale for the remainder of the afternoon, meaning a pie that normally costs $28 will now cost $23 for the remainder of the day. People must pre-order and pay for their pies in advance, but can arrange to pick them up on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at one of more than 30 convenient locations throughout the region.
“Pie Day is a great tradition for Food & Friends,” says Amanda Nover, the director of special events and corporate partnerships at Food & Friends. “We’ll have tables set up on the sidewalk, and we’ll have staff members in orange T-shirts roaming the square with trays full of samples. Then people will cast a ballot for apple versus pumpkin, we’ll tally all the votes, and then make an announcement via email and social media about which one is the winner and will go on sale.”
As part of Slice of Life, customers can choose from five different pie flavors: apple, pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan, and American Airlines Sky Pie, a salted-caramel brownie pie. Pies are 9 inches in diameter and range from $28 to $45, with proceeds directly benefitting Food & Friends. All pies are baked by the Sterling-based bakery Baguette Republic, which has partnered with Food & Friends for Slice of Life over the past few years. For those watching their waistlines, they can purchase a pie on behalf of a client, who will receive it along with a full Thanksgiving turkey dinner.
“This incredible community support we see every year during Slice of Life is the type of spirit that makes this season of giving so special,” Craig Shniderman, the executive director of Food & Friends, said in a statement. “We invite everyone who calls the D.C. area their home to join us in supporting our neighbors affected by life-challenging diseases. By helping sell pies, or simply by purchasing one — something many of us already plan to do this season — you can make the days a little easier and the holidays a little warmer for the people who need it the most.”
Food & Friends’ Pie Day and the “In Pie We Crust” election will be held on Thursday, Nov. 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Farragut Square, at the intersection of K and 17th Streets NW. For more information about Pie Day or about the Slice of Life fundraiser, or to purchase pies, visit sliceoflifedc.org.
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