The Record (Troy, NY)

Hunger fundraisin­g event set for Thursday

The Take a Bite Out of Hunger fundraisin­g event is hosted by The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area

- By Lauren Halligan lhalligan@digitalfir­stmedia.com reporter

TROY, N.Y. >> The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area is hosting the first- ever Take a Bite Out of Hunger fundraisin­g event this week, inviting community members to attend in an effort to help prevent local hunger.

Take a Bite Out of Hunger is a new food tasting event that challenges local culinary teams to battle it out for the People’s Choice Award determinin­g guests’ favorite bite of the evening.

The event will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7 at the Franklin Terrace Ballroom, located at 126 Campbell Ave. in Troy.

Attendees will enjoy samples of cuisine from more than 20 area restaurant­s, as well as a compliment­ary beverage, and the chance to try their luck at a reverse raffle and wine pull, bid on more than 75 auction items, test their knowledge of trivia and vote for their favorite local eats.

All proceeds will benefit the food programs and services for youth at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital area, the youth developmen­t organizati­on resulting from the recent merger between the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany and Troy Boys & Girls Club. This organizati­on serves nearly 2,000 youth daily in 18 locations across Albany and Rensselaer County, with a mission to inspire and enable all young people, especially those in need, to realize their full potential as productive, responsibl­e and caring citizens.

“We decided to start this new event to highlight the important work being done to combat food insecurity in the Capital Area,” said events director Tracy Moore of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area. “Many people don’t know this, but we are serving over 1,100 free hot meals to youth in after-school programs throughout Albany and Rensselaer County each day. If we’re able to raise money and awareness while providing guests a fun evening then I’ll consider the event a success.”

Supporting this cause by participat­ing in Thursday’s Take a Bite Out of Hunger fundraisin­g event with sample stations are the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area Kitchen, 110 Grill, Ama Cocina, Ben & Jerry’s, Brown’s Brewing Company, Carol’s Place, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, DeCrescent­e Distributi­ng Company, Defazio’s, Deli & Brew, Dinosaur BBQ, The Greek House, Kanters Deli, Muddaddy Flats Quesadilla­ry, Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub, Park Pub, Patricelli’s, Starbucks, Testo’s, Texas Roadhouse and Trader Joe’s.

Local native Dan Frament used to attend the Troy Boys Club as a kid. Now, as a business owner, his eatery Muddaddy Flats Quesadilla­ry is proud to participat­e in a fundraiser like The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area’s Take a Bite Out of Hunger.

“Helping to keep things going is an important part of being a member of the community,” he said. “It makes a better present and a brighter future.”

Fellow Troy restaurant Carol’s Place is also glad to be part of the event.

“Feeding people is our family’s passion,” said Anita Luke, founder Carol Stroman’s daughter. “Now in our 36th year, we still love the opportunit­y to serve our community; it makes us feel like we’re making a difference!”

Tickets to Take a Bite Out of Hunger are $25 each or $100 for five, available online through www.bgccapital­area.org/takeabite.

More informatio­n about The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area and its service can be found online at www.bgccapital­area.org.

 ?? PHOTO PROVIDED ?? Local kids in Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area programs enjoy a meal.
PHOTO PROVIDED Local kids in Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area programs enjoy a meal.
 ?? PHOTO PROVIDED ?? The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area serves 1,100free hot meals to youth in after-school programs throughout Albany and Rensselaer County each day.
PHOTO PROVIDED The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area serves 1,100free hot meals to youth in after-school programs throughout Albany and Rensselaer County each day.

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