Submitted by Katie Ryan-Anderson

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – After a two-year break, Kiwanis Against Hunger is back and the club is raising funds to make it possible.

Along with hundreds of volunteers, the annual meal-packing event generated about 1.26 million meals since the first pack in 2011.

“Members of the Kiwanis Club of Jamestown and the community volunteer at Kiwanis Against Hunger every year. It helps children thrive, prosper and grow,” said Searle Swedlund, club president. “We know kids need Kiwanis, in our community and in communities around the world.”

This year, the club is hosting a Live Pie Auction, celebrating long-time member Sharon Caine. Caine was one of the club’s first female members when Kiwanis welcomed women in addition to men in 1992. She is known throughout the community for her baking, especially pies.

Live Pie Auction attendees can expect a variety of pies including apple, caramel-apple, pumpkin, cherry, pecan, sour cream raisin, lemon and peach. Attendees can also expect other auction items like gifts, trips and family fun.

Krysten Perkins is the chair of the Kiwanis Against Hunger event. She said the club picks the Kiwanis Against Hunger project because of community need. “Nearly one-third of children in Jamestown are on free-and-reduced lunches,” Perkins said. “Kiwanis wants to do its part to support children and their families.”

The Live Pie Auction is set for Thursday, Sept. 8 at the Jamestown Arts Center. The event hopes to offset the cost of meal ingredients. Each Kiwanis Against Hunger meal costs about 25 cents per serving. In its history, the club has raised more than $290,000 for the cause.

Tickets to the Live Pie Auction include heavy appetizers and are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Doors open at 5:30, with the auction to begin at 6:15 p.m.

Kiwanis Against Hunger is set for Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Jamestown Rural Fire Department. More information to follow closer to the event.

“Kids need Kiwanis, now more than ever before, and this project is an example of how our club can meet a need for families in our region,” Swedlund said. “Please support the Live Pie Auction so that Kiwanis can continue to offer Kiwanis Against Hunger to the community.”

For information about the Kiwanis Club of Jamestown, visit facebook/com/JamestownKiwanis or email JamestownKiwanis@gmail.com.