news-record.com

GREENSBORO — It’s getting harder to keep the cupboards filled at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, so the group is turning to a previously untapped market for help: golf fans.

People attending this week’s Wyndham Championship who donate at least five cans of food will be entered into a raffle to win a seven-night vacation, courtesy of the golf tournament’s title sponsor.

It’s a move out of necessity for Second Harvest, which supplies more than 400 food pantries, homeless shelters and soup kitchens from Boone to Burlington. Several local groups, including Greensboro’s Urban Ministry and Grace Church of High Point’s Helping Hands emergency food pantry, also count on Second Harvest to stock their shelves.

Erin Foster, marketing manager for Second Harvest, said the food bank has seen a 76 percent rise in need since the economy began falling and unemployment began rising.

“We’re seeing a lot of first-timers, people who have lost their jobs or had their hours cut and, in turn, their income,” she said.

Three weeks ago, Second Harvest had about 500 pounds of canned goods in its Winston-Salem warehouse. Typically, the group distributes about 38,000 pounds of food daily.

Golf fans can drop off their canned goods in the public, volunteer and VIP parking lots before boarding the buses for Sedgefield Country Club, where the Wyndham will be played this week. Donation boxes also will be inside Sedgefield’s clubhouse and in the volunteer tent for people who walk to the tournament from the surrounding neighborhood.

Second Harvest is requesting canned meats such as chicken and tuna; canned vegetables, fruits, stews, soups, and pork and beans; and peanut butter and jelly in plastic jars. No glass or perishable items will be accepted.

Foster said the raffle is a great way to bring in food and raise awareness for the food bank, which is always looking for volunteers.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to raise awareness for the number of people in need right now,” she said. “We’re hoping people will donate more than just food. We’re hoping they can donate their money and time.”

Contact Robert Bell at 373-7055 or at robert.bell@news-record.com