Tis the season of giving thanks! Give thanks this year by lending a hand to your local community. Here at Parties That Cook we look at food as a shared experience. Whether it is a family gathering, corporate team building event or cooking party, we strive to build communities in the kitchen. In turn, we participate in our own community through partnerships and donations with several small business organizations and non-profits.

We are so excited for our largest charitable donation to date- Cooking for a Cause which benefits Room to Read. Room to Read aims to empower children through education by establishing libraries, local language children’s literature and schools for children throughout the developing world. Parties That Cook and Crushpad Winery invite guests on February 4th, 2010 to enjoy an evening of delicious food and wine. John Wood, founder of Room to Read, will share the organization’s story. All ticket proceeds will go directly to Room to Read. We hope to see you there!

Here’s how you can help your community this holiday season:

Give food to a local food bank. If you’re in the Bay Area, The San Francisco Food Bank has several food drop-off locations throughout city.

Volunteer your time to an organization like Little Brothers- Friends of the Elderly. This national network of non-profit volunteer-based organizations offers friendship and basic services to isolated elderly men and women in San Francisco.

Donate to your favorite charitable organization

• $20 can feed an abandoned dog or cat for 3 weeks and $35 can vaccinate 10 homeless animals. This year in California alone, the ASPCA has been able to offer over $300,000 in grants to animal welfare organizations because of cash donations.
• DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Teachers from across America request classroom project materials and you can give any amount or fulfill any request. DonorsChoose will deliver the materials to the teacher and kids.

Cheers!