Clarkston area residents beat their goal at this year’s Open Your Heart fundraiser, collecting about $45,000 for Lighthouse North.
They have another chance to help out local families in need, one step at a time.
Lighthouse of Oakland County hosts Hunger Walk, Saturday, May 17, at Lighthouse Campus of Caring, 46156 Woodward, Pontiac.
“We’d like to get more people from north Oakland County,” said Jim LeBlanc of Springfield Township, volunteer and organizer with Lighthouse. “Lighthouse does a good job supporting people in need in the community.”
“Demand is way up at both offices (Clarkston and Pontiac),” said John Ziraldo, CEO of Lighthouse. “We had probably 700 families last month at the two offices ? they’re busy about the same amount.”
Last year, about 400 people a month needed emergency food, Ziraldo said.
‘About a third of the people who request food from our emergency food pantry each month have never previously asked for assistance from a social service agency,? he said. “Hunger is a symptom of other problems.”
Problems include diminishing household incomes due to cutbacks in hours and layoffs and rising energy, gasoline, and food prices.
‘Many of our clients have limited access to transportation and are limited to shopping at local mom and pop stores where prices can be up to 30 percent higher than at superstores,? Ziraldo says.
More food donations are needed in summer when school is not in session, he said.
‘The demand definitely goes up during the summer months,? Ziraldo says. ‘When kids are out of school, grocery bills can go up by 10 meals a week per child. Plus, we get hit with a double whammy as schools are major contributors to our food pantry.?
Hunger Walk participants walk a four-mile route through the Unity Park neighborhood. Also featured will be a Dignitaries Health Tent, children’s area, entertainment and prizes.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. Participants are asked to collect pledges; walkers collecting $25 or more will receive a Hunger Walk T-shirt. Proceeds benefit the Lighthouse food pantry.
Lighthouse offers emergency, three-day food supplies, long-term housing and support for women and children in need, and housing and financial education programs.
For more information, call 248-920-6000, ext. 2362 or check www.lighthouseoakland.org.