The second annual "Bowling For Hunger And Education" is only a month away as food bank use across Chatham-Kent continues to rise.
It takes place October 14th and organizers are trying to improve on last year's total of $11,300 raised to be split by Outreach for Hunger and The St. Clair College Chatham Campus Scholarship Fund.
Last year, four scholarships were awarded and this year's goal is six.
Outreach for Hunger Executive Director Brenda LeClair says she sees at least 30 new families at the food bank every month.
"First time I'd never thought I'd need to use the food bank folks and that has not changed. That continues to grow and be a concern. Family size also whereas a lot of times over the years most food banks would find more singles than families," says LeClair.
The event is October 14 at Bowlerama in Chatham and the doors open at 8:30pm.
It costs $500 for a bowling team to enter and the fee includes food, cash bar, raffles, prizes, live music and an after party hosted by Jeff Burrows of the Tea Party.
To register call 519-351-8381.
LeClair finds the increase at the food bank more disturbing than surprising and says donations are always welcome.
"Where are these families coming from? We will always have families living below the poverty line and who need occasional help but to find that many more families coming in every month needing that kind of support is more disturbing," LeClair says.
LeClair says the food bank serves 300 to 400 families a month and 200 more on 'drop-in' Thursday mornings.
"We provide families a week's worth of nutritional food based on Canada's Food Guide but to keep up with that the food has to continuously come in. We have an extremely generous community and it happens. The food is there when we need it and they're meeting the need," says LeClair.
