October 19, 2011 — To celebrate Food Day 2011, the University of Virginia Food Collaborative and several local organizations are sponsoring an event Oct. 23 at The Haven, 112 W. Market St., Charlottesville.

The event features a community potluck dinner at 6 p.m. and a 7:15 p.m. presentation by Tanya Denckla Cobb, associate director of U.Va.'s Institute for Environmental Negotiation who also teaches food system planning in U.Va.'s School of Architecture.

Cobb will share success stories from grassroots groups all over the country that are producing, processing, distributing and serving locally grown food. These stories are featured in her new book, "Reclaiming Our Food: How the Grassroots Food Movement is Changing the Way We Eat."

Cobb will sign copies of her book afterward. Proceeds from book sales will benefit the Food Collaborative, which is co-sponsoring the event along with Market Central, the Local Food Hub, U.Va.'s Morven Farm, the Virginia Food System Council, Transition Charlottesville and the Healthy Food Coalition.

The book can be purchased at the event, or pre-ordered online for pick up at the Haven event.

Donations for this event will help supply fresh, locally sourced eggs for the Haven's breakfast program, which serves a hot breakfast 365 days a year to the local homeless community. A donation box will be available at the event; to donate online, visit the Food Day website.

Food Day seeks to bring Americans from all walks of life together to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way, according to the event's website. Food Day was created by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the nonprofit watchdog group that has fought for food labeling, better nutrition, and safer food since 1971.