Jane & Steve Reynolds

Magen Norwood, Tasha & Jeremy Reeder

Regina & Joseph Morris

F

eeding the Gulf Coast hosted their second Florida Chef 
Challenge, titled “A Challenge to End Hunger” on 
Thursday, September 13, at Sanders Beach-Corrine Jones 
Resource Center. This event is Feeding the Gulf Coast’s 

fundraiser that brings together some of the area’s most celebrated 
chefs for an evening of incredible food and drink, and live music 
from Romano Street in the name of ending hunger. Proceeds from 
the inaugural Florida Chef Challenge in 2017 helped provide 80,000 
meals to neighbors. Local chefs from the Florida Panhandle battled 
for their chance to win in several categories including Best Appetizer, 
Best Entrée, and Best Dessert. One lucky participant won the 
People’s Choice Award for having the best dish of the night. 

One in six people in our area struggles with hunger, including one 

in four children. Feeding the Gulf Coast works through member 
organizations and special programs to provide nutritious food to 

meet the challenge of feeding people who are hungry as a result 
of personal crisis or disaster. All proceeds from the Florida Chef 
Challenge will be used to support hunger-relief programs and 
provide meals to those in need throughout the seven-county Florida 
service area.

Feeding the Gulf Coast, formerly Bay Area Food Bank, serves a 

24-county area spanning the Panhandle of Florida, South Alabama, 
and South Mississippi. In 2017, the food bank distributed over 19 
million meals to over 400 church pantries, soup kitchens and other 
nonprofi t organizations throughout its service area. The food bank 
also operates multiple nutrition programs, including Summer Meals, 
Afterschool Meal, Backpack, Disaster Relief, Community Garden, 
Mobile Pantry, Produce Drop, Cooking Matters, and SNAP 
Outreach. Feeding the Gulf Coast is a United Way member agency 
and a member of Feeding America.

Flor ida Chef 

Challenge

photos & story by

 

Kristina Wright

Bobby & Karen Emmons

   VIP Pensacola at Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center

Magi Williams, Kara Luckett & Austin Coleman

November 2018   |   69

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