World Banana Day is Here!
A growing movement to end hunger in Texas is happening… and it’s yellow!
September 21st is World Banana Day III: being banana-lovers here at EatAChiquita.com, we just had to know more about it.
Enter Bill Cochran, founder of the self-proclaimed World Banana Day. His mission? “Solving World Hunger Through the Cunning Use of Banana Suits.”
In 2008, Bill started his own World Banana Day as a special way to use people, bananas, and wackiness to help solve the problem of hunger in his home state. His website, worldbananaday.org explains their unique mission, "Solving World Hunger Through the Cunning Use of Banana Suits," and we couldn't be more pleased that someone else notices the magical powers of bananas!
According to the press release for World Banana Day II, the first-ever World Banana Day saw something very special: "The most people ever dressed as bananas to raise awareness, money for hunger relief (and hang out dressed as bananas)." What happened on that night in Dallas, Texas you ask? Well, according to their website in 2008 "55 people braved the cold in bright yellow banana suits and marched up McKinney Avenue to raise awareness for local hunger relief. And, truth be told, they warmed up in a few of Uptown’s finest taverns along the way. But most importantly, they raised well over $1,000 for the North Texas Food Bank."
Bill goes on to describe his vision saying, “By dressing as bananas, we believe we will bring much more attention to our cause than if we just, say, went out and talked to people about hunger while dressed in Affliction T-shirts or whatever people wear in Uptown these days." Bananas command attention, it's just the way it is in the world.
This year World Banana Day III is today, September 21st, 2010 and if you can’t join Bill in Texas, we’ve got some suggestions for you to join in the celebrations!
- Volunteer at a local food bank… dressed as a banana of course!
- Bring a banana for your coworkers, classmates, gym buddy, bus driver or someone in your life who could use a smile.
- Play some banana-themed games with your friends.
- Join the International Banana Club
- Make some yummy banana recipes to share with your family, like this one.
Got more ideas for celebrating? Tell us what YOU’RE doing for World Banana Day III this year in the comments.
Happy World Banana Day!