REDMOND, Wash. — When customers at Spark Pizza sit down to enjoy a piece of Tomato Quattro pizza, they're helping to donate to Home Team Harvest.
And with every sip of the Teacher's Pet Cocktail at Woodblock, a portion of the proceeds also goes to the annual fundraiser benefiting Northwest Harvest.
Those two restaurants in Redmond are among the handful of businesses that are pitching in to help fight food insecurity in Washington.
"I thought about all the places that we frequent here in Redmond, our fitness community, the restaurants that we like to go to and Woodblock and Spark are a great example," said Jenni Baldwin. "Instead of giving a monetary amount, they've added these items to the menu."
Jenni and Ryan Baldwin partnered with the restaurants, along with Evereve, Cyclebar Redmond Town Center, Pure Barre Redmond and The Pursuit to donate to people in need.
Their desire to help those less fortunate started with a simple goal.
"We started in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic when we couldn't have family at our house. We decided after watching one of your amazing segments to walk over to Safeway and donate $20 virtual grocery bags for each person who would have been at our table that year."
They challenged their friends and family to do the same and that year, the Baldwins raised more than $10,000.
In 2021 and 2022, they raised even more.
This year, they set a lofty goal of $25,000 for a combined total of $100,000 over 4 years.
"It's very humbling. These businesses such as Spark and Woodblock contributing, but also individuals that continue to want to contribute year after year," said Ryan Baldwin. "It makes us proud to be part of this community that's trying to help people."
$5 of every Tomato Quattro Pizza sold at Spark goes to the Baldwin Bag Challenge, which lasts through the end of November.
The Baldwins say when people are enjoying a meal they can afford, many of them are choosing to give back so others can do the same.
"It's such a basic human right to be able to give that gift to somebody else with even a small donation. I think that's something that everybody can get behind," said Jenni Baldwin.
KING 5’s annual Home Team Harvest drive to benefit Northwest Harvest is underway. This year’s goal is to raise 23 million meals.
Ways to donate:
- Online through Northwest Harvest
- Visit your local Safeway or Albertsons to give $5, $10 or $12 toward grocery cards.
- Make in-person donations at Lumen Field on Dec. 2 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Watch the Home Team Harvest broadcast special on Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. on KING 5, KING5.com and KING 5+.