Food Network's Sandra Lee visits Syracuse : News : CNYcentral.com

Food Network's Sandra Lee visits Syracuse

Posted: 01.03.2011 at 6:09 PM

Laura Hand

Laura Hand anchors CNY Central's Weekend Today in Central New York.

Read more: Local, Politics, Hunger, Food Bank of CNY

Food Network's Sandra Lee talks about hunger awareness as the Food Bank of CNY director Thomas Slater looks on / Photojournalist Brian Erb

Just days after the inauguration of her 'close friend, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Sandra Lee is doing a tour of food banks here in Central New York to raise awareness of hunger.

Lee says she grew up the oldest of five in a family that relied on welfare, and so understands the issues of hunger, especially child hunger, and how it's tough on needy families at the end of a month. She also says she's doing the tour now to remind people that hunger continues beyond the donation periods around the holidays.

When asked how she wanted to be referred to (the news release announcing her tour calls her a 'close friend' of Governor Andrew Cuomo) Lee told us that she did not want to discuss her private life. When asked if she thought her relationship with the governor gives more prominence to the hunger awareness effort, she tells up 'I don't even think about that. I think about doing the work I've always done and is important to me. I want to stay with what's true to me."

Lee and her Food Network partners, including Sam's Club, presented the Food Bank of Central New York with a $10,000 check.
She promises to be back in Syracuse in March for a 'bake sale' fundraiser.