Hi, I'm Eileen - a Gourmand Gal of Latina descent (Cuban on my father’s side -Colombian on my mother’s) savoring Seattle through Ethical Eats and Local Libations. You may have read my blog 'The Latina Locavore.'  (thank you!) I'm a: Syrah sipper. Farm feaster. Crepe connoisseur. Thrifty 30something. I serve on the Board of the Seattle Wine Society and donate my time to the PCC Farmland Trust -volunteering on organic farms it is helping to protect, as well as PCC Market's food bank program -helping repackage donated bulk organic foods to distribute to area food banks.

Though I love to eat gourmet -in moderation- I was also raised very health consciously, with good nutrition and exercise habits (thanks Mom!). I keep fit by doing hot yoga and pilates, weight training, running, hiking, walking, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, and occassionally playing team sports like soccer, softball, volleyball or ultimate frisbee. I love being outdoors, despite of the Northwest's unpredictable weather. I've run 3 half marathons -2 in Seattle, and one in San Francisco, and am registering for one in mid-July this year.

I'm equally passionate about eating as I am about social justice, namely hunger relief. I've devoted over 12 years to volunteer and professional work in the non profit sector, in human services and environmental conservation, restoration, and education.

My first non profit job was with Seattle's Union Gospel Mission, an 80 year old organization that feeds, shelters, and helps rebuild lives of thousands each year at their various facilities and reaches many more through their outreach programs. 1,500 men, women and children join UGM for a meal every day. Working in such an environment deeply impacted me, and it continued to impact me as I travelled to third world countries and witnessed povery firsthand.

My mother, born in Colombia, also witnessed abject poverty firsthand, and learned to not waste food, but instead to share it with the hungry; which in turn instilled in my family those same values of conscientious eating and sharing our resources with those less fortunate. As a child, we volunteered in the community and sent our old outgrown toys and clothes to nuns, (including my mother's aunts) in Colombia working with impoverished populations. This practice may have influenced my decision to seek a career in the non profit sector, where I have happily served for a third of my life.

So how can I make a difference in feeding the hungry through Women's Health and the Feed Foundation and how do you fit in?

Simple.

Run. Influence. Change the World.

Right now, 1 in 5 American children are wondering when they will get their next meal.

• Hunger hurts more than tummies—it also affects a child’s ability to learn.
• There are hungry kids in every county in America, including YOURS?

What if all you had to do to make a change in the lives of the people living in your city was RUN? This fall, that’s exactly what I'm asking you to do.

Join me, Women’s Health and the FEED Foundation to Run 10K and Feed 10 in our city, Seattle.

Here's how you can make a huge impact in ending hunger:

• Run with me -I need 20 runners to train for and run in our Seattle Fun Run 10K
• Become a member of our fundraising page
• Donate to our fundraiser -my goal is to raise $20,000
• Cheer our runners on both virtually and in person on Oct 6th at our 10K!

What are you waiting for - let's hit the ground running and feed 1 million!

About the FEED Foundation:
The FEED Foundation is truly dedicated to ending world hunger- one child at a time.  Since our organization was co-founded by Lauren Bush Lauren in 2007, the FEED Foundation and its partner, FEED Projects, have provided over 60 million nutritious school meals- and with your help, we can provide millions  more. The FEED Foundation partners with organizations such as the United Nations World Food Programme, UNICEF, DonorsChoose.org and local food banks to fight hunger and eliminate malnutrition by providing school meals, nutritional supplements and education.