Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Vestal High School’s Soccer Teams Kick off CHOW Drive

From the Vestal Central School District:

This year, student athletes on the Vestal High School soccer varsity and junior varsity teams are teaming up with the Broome County Council of Churches to help “kick out” hunger in our area.

September is National Hunger Awareness Month, and our players have been collecting nonperishable food items this month and continuing throughout the soccer season. We’re asking for your help. On September 25, the players will wear “Got CHOW?” T-shirts to school as part of a push to collect more food donations at both home games against Maine-Endwell that evening.

Community members can drop off cans or boxes of non-perishable food items at any of the boys and girls junior varsity or varsity home soccer games at Dick Hoover Stadium. CHOW barrels will be set up next to the concession stand through the end of October.

Currently, the Golden Bears soccer teams’ home games schedule is:

September 25, 4:30 p.m. JV Boys & 7 p.m. Varsity Boys

September 26, 7 p.m. Varsity Girls

October 4, 4 p.m., Varsity Boys


October 8, 4:30 p.m., Varsity Girl

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

5K Run/Walk and festival on Sunday in Vestal to aid CHOW

The event will include a 5K run/walk through the park and woods, a volleyball tournament, live music, chicken barbecue, games and activities for kids, raffle baskets, Irish dancers, magicians, and face painting.

The event is organized and managed by the high school Association of Students from the Vestal area. Their mission is to help the community through charitable works and services
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CHOW program director, Michael Leahey, said: “It is amazing to see what these students are doing in support of their community through this initiative to help feed people dealing with food insecurity. We are very grateful for their work on behalf of CHOW and impressed by their creativity and dedication in caring for people in need.”

Registrations for the 5K run/walk can be emailed to FallFestival5k@gmail.com or you may register the morning of the race from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the park.

Pre-registration qualifies participants for a free T-shirt. Pre-registration is required to participate in the volleyball tournament by emailing FallFestivalTournament@gmail.com and providing the entrant’s first and last name.

Admission is a donation of canned goods for the CHOW collection barrels.


Thursday, September 19, 2013

Help Trample Hunger at the 31st Annual CHOW Hunger Walk

Broome County Council of Churches has announced several new and exciting features for the 31st CHOW Hunger Walk, which will be held Sunday, October 20.

Live music by The Beatles Band, the Broome County ZooMobile, activities from The Magic Paintbrush Project, and visits by the team mascots from both the BMets and Senators are some of the newest attractions of the event. As always, free food and beverages will be provided all participants.

The CHOW Walk is an essential part of the support system for the Council’s emergency food program. Hundreds of walkers, including individuals and families, as well as teams from dozens of churches, youth groups and community organizations contribute to the success of this annual 2.5 mile event, which will be held on the Binghamton University campus starting at 2:00 p.m. Registration begins at 1:00 p.m. in the East Gym parking lot.

CHOW program director, Michael Leahey, notes that CHOW is seeking both veteran and new walkers to help raise the money needed to assist Broome County residents struggling against hunger. “People are urged to find a sponsor, form a group, or walk individually. In addition to enjoying the entertainment and food, each walker raising at least $50 will receive a free event tee shirt. The Walk this year has a new and family-friendly focus. We invite everyone to enjoy the expanded live entertainment and take advantage of the opportunity to participate in fun activities,” Leahey stated.  

CHOW, the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse, provided over 700,000 meals, free of charge, to people requesting assistance in 2012. Over 40% of those served were children. CHOW also operates the Broome Bounty food recovery program, which rescued and redeployed over one million pounds of food locally last year alone. The demand for its services has been growing constantly as local individuals and families try to deal with the difficult economic environment. Through CHOW’s program, every $1 raised is leveraged into $7 in food, which provides 4 meals.

Volunteers can call the Council of Churches at (607) 724-9130 for more information and can pick up pledge packets at the office at 3 Otseningo St., Binghamton, on the city’s south side. Walkers can bring their pledge envelopes and money they collected to the walk.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Binghamton Restaurant Week starts Sept. 17

BINGHAMTON — Twenty-four restaurants will participate in the fall edition of Binghamton Restaurant Week, which runs from Sept. 17 to 26.

Proceeds will benefit the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse.

The ten-day event is intended to lure diners to local eateries and bolster the city’s economy while raising money for a local charity.

Restaurants have special lunch and/or dinner deals during the course of the event. A three-course lunch costs $10 and a three-course dinner $25 or less.

Participating restaurants include Binghamton Hots, Burger Monday, Cafe West 46, Cortese Restaurant, Crepe Heaven, Cyber Cafe West, Czech Pleeze, Galaxy Brewing Company, Gallagher’s Irish Pub,House of Reardon, Little Venice Restaurant, Loft @ 99, Lost Dog Cafe, Number 5 Restaurant, Remlik’s Grille & Oyster Bar, River Bistro, Sake-Tumi, South Side Yanni’s, Taste of Europe, Thai Time, Tranquil Bar & Bistro, Water Street Brewing Company, Whole In The Wall Restaurant, and Zona & Co. Grille

For more information about Binghamton Restaurant Week, including menus, visit http://binghamtonrestaurantweek.com.