Harvesters Fashion Show 2015 for the Second Harvest Food Bank OC

Harvesters hosted their 23rd Annual Fashion Show & Luncheon at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa last Wednesday. With over 400 guests in attendance, OC elites and fashion-forward philanthropists came together to raise awareness for and support the hunger epidemic in Orange County as well as celebrate, through a fashion show produced by South Coast Plaza and a luncheon, all that the Harvesters have accomplished so far for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. The day's events kicked off with a Jaeger- Le Coultre champagne reception and silent auction; onto an impeccably executed fashion show featuring fall looks from South Coast Plaza's luxury designer labels including Ralph Lauren, Max Mara, Barbara Bui, Moncler, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo, Marni, Oscar de la Renta, Versace, Valentino, Lanvin, and Roberto Cavalli; and lastly with a lavish luncheon.

Harvesters co-chairs Susan Croul and Melissa Knode kicked off the fashion show with a welcome and thank you speech, and the Second Harvest Food Bank OC CEO Nicole Suydam spoke about the 349,000 people in our community that are at risk for hunger, meaning "they don't always know where their next meal is coming from...1 in 5 children are at risk". She painted a picture of what hunger in OC looks like and who it affects; "the face of hunger is a child whose parents are trying to decide 'can I pay rent or buy food', the face of hunger is a mom who recently lost her job or is experiencing a medical crisis, the face of hunger is a senior citizen whose trying to decide 'can I buy food or buy my medicine', these are difficult choices".

The Second Harvest Food Bank of OC collects and distributes donated foods from grocery retailers, manufacturers, farmers, and food drives which in turn is given to 320 partner organizations (church pantries, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters) therefore providing food to people in need. Last year, through all the programs and services, they provided the equivalent of 19.8 million meals to the OC community. As well, the number of people that were facing hunger decreased by 20,000 people and the Second Harvest Food Bank OC can continue to close that gap by spreading awareness and raising funds for meals and programming. Learn more about this great organization here.