In a recent announcement, Shake Shack just kicked off its first Great Philippine Shake Sale in the Central Square and SM Megamall Shacks running until September 6 with two limited-time flavors, Vanilla Cookies & Cream and Chocolate Cookies & Cream. With these confections, proceeds from this sale is set to benefit the Art Relief Mobile Kitchen (ARMK) to support feeding the hungry through community kitchens.
Largely inspired by the tradition of fundraising bake sales, the Great Shake Sale finds its roots in the US since 2012 as Shake Shack’s initiative to raise awareness and funds to end childhood hunger in America. Since 2014 it has become a global undertaiking, inviting Shack fans around the world to continue to Stand for Something Good, then raising over $2.6 million for the campaign.
This year, the Philippines joins in on the magnanimous act of paying it forward, donating P50 from every shake sold to ARMK. For just P50, Shake Shack can provide freshly cooked nutritious meals to individuals in need through ARMK’s kitchen.
ARMK brings food relief to Filipino communities in distress – stricken by natural and man-made disasters. Founded by acclaimed photojournalist Alex Baluyut, together with Precious Leano, ARMK started out as a volunteer response team made up of photographers and artists to help feed families devastated by Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Their first community kitchen was in Villamor Airbase in 2013 feeding Haiyan evacuees and mobilizing over 2,000 volunteers cooking nonstop for 22 days.
For the past seven years, the ARMK has since set up mobile kitchens across the country, serving thousands of meals in over 50 missions with dedicated and skilled volunteers who prepare, cook and distribute comfort food to families in need. They provide free recovery meals where they are needed, with food and ingredients sourced from donations of the Filipino community.
“Sometimes, all that people need to start bouncing back is a decent meal,” said Alex Baluyut, founder of ARMK. “People can come together and start their own community kitchen. We have shown that it can be done.”
“The core mission of the Great Philippine Shake Sale is to feed the Filipino families in need and we’re looking forward to sharing this moment and reaching this goal with the Shack community, together with ARMK,” said Steve Sarmenta, EVP for Specialty Food Retailers, Inc.
“What’s inspiring about ARMK is their commitment to help and empower these communities to be able to re-start and get back on their feet. It’s this grassroots value of theirs that we know we’ve found the perfect partner community in ARMK.”
Specialty Food Retailers, Inc. (SFRI) is the exclusive franchise holder of Shake Shack in the Philippines. SFRI is a member of the SSI Group.
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