No Room To Spare At 2015 Hunger STRIKE

 

Thirty Hays County businesses and several private individuals packed Sunset Lanes bowling alley with enthusiastic Hays County Food Bank supporters at the 4th annual Hunger STRIKE bowling tournament last Friday.  Hunger STRIKE combines facts about the serious issue of food insecurity in Hays County with Friday afternoon fun that keeps bowlers coming back every year.  Food bank trivia, door prize announcements, laughter, cheers, clattering pins and the thunder of balls rolling down Sunset Lane bowling alley have become the signature sound track for the popular fund raiser.

 

Registration fees, raffle donations, and Spirit Sponsor support totaled almost $12,000. Proceeds will be used to enable the food bank to continue providing nutritious food to an average of 4,900 families a month.  A 2012 Feeding America study report revealed that 24,790 Hays County residents are food insecure.  Of that total, 23.1% are children who do not always know where they will find their next meal.

 

Most of the teams were sponsored by local businesses like HEB, Broadway Bank, CFAN, Ember, Little Guys Movers, Ozona Bank, and Seton Hays, seven teams that have bowled every year since the inaugural Hunger STRIKE in 2012.  Several new teams joined the regulars this year including the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, Hays Home Team (Keller Williams), Texas Home Team, Coldwell Banker United Realtors, Gary Job Corps.  Visit www.haysfoodbank.org  for a complete list of teams and spirit sponsors.

 

This year three teams were composed of friends and colleagues who came together and paid their own way to bowl on behalf of their local food bank. Team Arrredondo included friends and family members who paid their registration fee with money collected by the Arredondo family to donate toward a worthy cause in memory of their grandparents.  Mayor Daniel Guerrero, City Manager Jared Miller and Asst. City Manager Steve Parker bowled as the Super Friends, along with retired NBA Indiana Pacer and Texas State University alumnus, Jeff Foster. State Representative Jason Isaac also sponsored a team of individual Hays County Food Bank supporters.   

 

CFAN took home the trophy for High Series for the 4th year in a row.  HEB # 2 proudly accepted the trophy for 1st Runner Up.  Priority Personnel won 1st Place for the Most Spirited for their energy and enthusiasm and good sportsmanship, with Broadway Bank placing second.  This year’s Spirit Sponsors, businesses and individuals who did not bowl but donated to support the cause included Night Hawk Frozen Foods, Walton Development, RMK Consulting, San Marcos Daily Record, Brakes-n-More, Quick Align, and Leaning Pear in Wimberley.

 

Executive Director Denise Blok said, “It was exciting to be part of this high energy countywide fund raiser. Seeing so many businesses and individuals come together from throughout the county to show their support made me realize just how fortunate we are to have so many generous Hays County friends.”

 

The Hays County Food Bank is a 501(C) (3) nonprofit organization that has served Hays County residents who need supplemental food assistance since 1984.  Working with 40+ partner agencies, your local food bank distributed 607,802 pounds of food last year to senior citizens, low-income working families, people with disabilities, the temporarily unemployed and other individuals and families facing economic challenges. The food bank serves an average of 4,900 families a week. The Hays County Food Bank is here to serve area residents needing assistance obtaining nutritious food, regardless of the reason or the season.