The It’s Spooky To Be Hungry food/funds drive kicks off Oct. 1 and as Golden Harvest Food Bank’s signature drive enters its 27^th year, the food bank debuts some updates meant to make it even easier to ‘scare away hunger.’ Donated food collected in neighborhoods will be gathered at strategic drop off locations and improvements to the Spooky website make it easier to create virtual teams to raise monetary donations.

“It’s Spooky To Be Hungry is a big success every year because we can draw on the generous spirit of people in the CSRA,” said Volunteer Coordinator Ann Malay. “This year, we’re also drawing on the feedback of volunteers, donors and captains to make it even easier to feed hungry families.”

Area residents can get involved in Spooky by starting their own virtual drive! Visit itsspookytobehungry.org and click ‘Start a Virtual Drive’. Every $1 raised provides 3 meals to those in need in our area.

CSRA residents also can volunteer on collection days in October, donate nonperishable food items in their neighborhood or to a food bank warehouse, or make a monetary donation either by check or at itsspookytobehungry.org -- click “Donate”.

Businesses will collect monetary donations Oct. 1-31. This is the third year the drive features a business competition.

To join the It’s Spooky To Be Hungry food/funds drive, visit itsspookytobehungry.org and click ‘Register to Compete’

Select schools across the CSRA also will collect food items throughout October.

Neighborhood captains and volunteers will collect orange bag donations from Aiken County and North Augusta on Oct. 19. Donations from Columbia and Richmond counties will be collected Oct. 26.  The food and funds drive serves the 1 in 6 people and 1 in 5 children in the CSRA who face hunger.