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Did you know that from 1990-2004, more than 1,700 people became ill from food purchased at fundraisers for non-profit organizations in Pennsylvania?

Church dinners, fire company chicken barbecues, booster club hoagie sales, bake sales -- according to the Penn State Cooperative Extension service, these events are excellent ways to socialize with your community while you help your favorite organizations raise funds. When cooking large volumes of food for hundreds of people, food safety is critical.

If you're planning on serving food as a fundraiser, make sure you get some of your people over to Fort Roberdeau on Wednesday, November 7 from 6 to 8 PM for the "Grow Your Food Safety Knowledge" workshop. The instructor will be Sharon McDonald (RD, LDN), a Nutrition, Health and Food Safety Extension Educator for the Penn State Cooperative Extension. Cost of the workshop is only $20 per organization, and each will receive a copy of the "Cooking for Crowds" manual, a food thermometer, and a set of food safety posters.

Registration deadline is October 31, 2007. To register, send your Name, Mailing address, Phone number, Email address, the name of your organization and the $20 (check made payable to "Extension Special" to Penn State Cooperative Extension, 301 Valley View Blvd, Valley View E Wing, Altoona, PA  16602. Include a list of all the people who will attend from your organization.

For more information, call the Penn State Cooperative Extension at 814-940-5989; for directions to Fort Roberdeau, call 814-946-0048.

You and your organization have so much to gain from a successful food fund raiser. Don't risk your customer's health and the reputation of your group!