Support for the 9th Annual Hunger Bowl More Critical Than Ever as St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry Faces Supply Crisis
Evansville, IN — As the community rallies for the 9th Annual Friday Knights Hunger Bowl on September 12, the need for support is more pressing than ever before.
The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry recently lost one of its largest suppliers, which had previously donated $120,000 in groceries annually. This major loss comes at a time when the number of households seeking assistance continues to climb; many of them first-time visitors struggling to keep up with inflation and food insecurity.
Sobering stats from the last fiscal year include:
- Over 95,000 food boxes distributed, weighing over 338 tons.
- Regular days when 100+ families are served
- $154,000 spent on food purchases, up from $90,000 the year before
- A drop in available food from Tri-State Food Bank, making direct purchases more necessary
“We are doing everything we can to meet the growing demand, but we can’t do it alone,” said Ashley Newell, Executive Director. “The Hunger Bowl has always been a lifeline for us, and this year we’re asking the community to step up like never before.”
While the Hunger Bowl began as a friendly competition between Memorial and Mater Dei, it has evolved into a full-fledged community effort. In recent years, foundations, businesses, trusts, schools, and K of C councils have joined forces to lift up their neighbors through the gift of giving.
As the pantry stretches to meet unprecedented need, your support—whether by attending the game, donating online, or spreading the word—makes a real and lasting difference.
Donations can be made directly to St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry online at: https://www.fridayknightshungerbowl.org
Web Page: https://www.fridayknightshungerbowl.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FridayKnightsHungerBowl
Knights of Columbus: http://www.kofc.org
Knights of SW Indiana: https://www.facebook.com/kofcswindiana
For more information on the Knights of Columbus and Hunger Bowl contact:
John Sandwell
812-250-1923
johnjudysandwell@gmail.com
Mark Hackert
812-319-6403
mhackert76@gmail.com
Contact At St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
Dr. Ashley Newell , Executive Director SVdP/Evansville
812-602-5182
anewell@svdpevansville.org
A Bit about the Knights of Columbus
For More information: Kofc7544info@gmail.com
- The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded by Blessed Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1882, it was named in honor of the explorer Christopher Columbus.
- The Knights of Columbus (K of C) is a Catholic fraternal service order and charity organization founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney and a group of parishioners at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut. The organization’s mission is charity, unity, and fraternity, and its membership is limited to practicing Catholic men. The K of C’s goals include supporting the Catholic Church, providing financial protection for families, and helping the less fortunate.
- K of C is a fraternal benefit society dedicated to providing charitable services, including war and disaster relief, actively defending Catholicism in various nations, and promoting Catholic education. The Knights also support the Catholic Church’s positions on public policy issues, including various political causes, and are participants in the Evangelization of our Catholic faith.
- There are 10 councils serving the Evansville area with over 1000 Knights.(see list below) In addition to SVDP, the councils offer financial and volunteer at their schools & Parishes, Habitat for Humanity, Gibault School in Terre Haute and many other activities. Each council has their own focus of who they serve.
- Knights of Columbus Councils in our area:
- Council 565—Original Council (west side)
- Council 2215—Sts. Peter and Paul
- Council 7544—St. Benedict Cathedral
- Council 8746–St. John the Baptist Newburgh
- Council 10257—Boonville
- Council 12541—Holy Redeemer
- Council 14659—St. Johns/Daylight
- Council 14673—Good Shepherd
- Council 15092—Annunciation (Christ the King/Holy Rosary)
- Council 16454—Auxillio (St. Phillip/Corpus Christi)
- Council 10257–St. Clement (Boonville)
- Membership is open to practicing Catholic men aged 18 or older.
- Pope John Paul II referred to the order as the “strong right arm of the Church” for their support of the church, as well as for their philanthropic and charitable efforts.
- The Knights are also well known for their insurance program with more than 2 million insurance contracts, totaling more than US$100 billion of life insurance in force
