Gail Simmons Wants You to Share Lunch, Fight Hunger
Here's how you can help City Harvest feed kids this summer
Gail Simmons wants two things for Mother’s Day.
The author, Top Chef judge, and mother of two wants a relaxing morning with her family — and she wants to ensure children in New York City have enough to eat this summer.
A member of City Harvest’s Food Council, Simmons shared details on a campaign that she co-chairs and that’s near to her heart: Share Lunch Fight Hunger.
This online fundraiser runs now through May 16, 2025 with a goal to feed more than 12,000 children and families throughout New York City this summer. Many New York City families rely on city public schools to provide lunch for their children. When schools are in recess, many children are left without steady meals. City Harvest provides a way for kids to get the crutial nutrition they need.
It’s easy to participate in the Share Lunch Fight Hunger challenge: Simply donate the cost of what you would spend on a lunch date to City Harvest. A $25 donation, for instance, provides free food to 19 children and their families.
Simmons shares that Dana Cowin started the challenge when they both worked at Food & Wine. “Dana started this campaign. She thought it would a simple way to give back if everyone donated what we spent for lunch in one day to City Harvest. She thought that the amount of children it could feed would be really transformative.”
Simmons added that Cowin would place brown lunch bags on the desks of her Food & Wine colleagues. “We’d put our lunch money into the bags and hand them in to Dana, who would give them to City Harvest. That’s the grassroots beginning of the campaign. It’s now turned into a citywide event.”
Simmons said the work that City Harvest does is crucial in a city as large as New York. “New York City is a city more more than eight million people. 50 percent of working households are struggling to make ends meet. The city hasn’t recovered fully from the pandemic, and more challenges have been piled on. Our children should not have to go hungry.”
That’s when the citizens of New York step in to help their neighbors. “New Yorkers band together like nothing I’ve ever seen. I’ve lived here through 9/11, Hurricane Sandy, and the pandemic and New Yorkers are the most generous people,” she says.
The Top Chef: Destination Canada judge says that her Canadian roots and culinary mentors showed her that giving back is essential. “Canada has a reputation for kindness and generosity. My parents have always participated in their community. Coming to New York and working in the culinary world, I had the greatest mentors including Dana Cowin and Daniel Boulud. It’s all about being a good human and a good citizen and setting the tone.
Simmons says the Share Lunch Fight Hunger challenge is a simple way for everyone to lend a hand. “Everyone can do a little bit. Even if you give the price of a cup of coffee, it helps. No donation is too big or too small.”
This weekend, Simmons will allow herself to relax and have her family take over for an annual Mother’s Day tradition. “My kids are really excited to get up early and make breakfast. They always cook for me. They’re 11 and seven and they make me cards and get me flowers. It’s the cutest thing. My husband has been known to sneak out and go to a new bakery and get some over the top pastries, too. I don’t need gifts. I want a day of rest, especially since I’ve been on the road this month.”
And, with the new Top Chef season halfway through, Broken Palate asked Simmons what viewers can expect in the episodes to come. “We have a couple more episodes in Toronto then we start exploring other regions and that’s going to get interesting.” Simmons wouldn’t give away any spoilers, except to look out for “over-the-top, amazing challenges” and a field of truly top chefs vying for the number one spot. “They really are, collectively, the greatest group we’ve ever had. This year it’s anyone’s game. There are so many mind-blowing moments to come.”
Donate to City Harvest’s Share Lunch Fight Hunger campaign here.