On a beautiful afternoon on Monday, June 11th, 176 golfers from across eastern North Carolina gathered at North Ridge Country Club in Raleigh for the inaugural Catholic Charities Drive Out Hunger Golf Outing. Over $52,000 was raised at the golf outing and will go towards supporting Catholic Charities food pantries across the Diocese of Raleigh.
“This golf outing has really helped us to do quite a few things,” explained Lisa Perkins, executive director of Catholic Charities. “It has been a friend raiser for us. As much as we can make friends and spread the word of Catholic Charities, it’s a great thing. This event will also help us to raise money for food insecurity across the diocese.”
Last year, six Catholic Charities food pantries distributed nearly 3 million pounds of food. In Raleigh alone, Catholic Parish Outreach, the largest food pantry in eastern North Carolina, assisted an average of 8,700 people per month.
“People are hungry all year round,” explained Kelly Rappl, Program Director at Catholic Parish Outreach. “Around the holidays people are very generous. But during the summer, when children are out of school and don’t have access to subsidized meals, it is especially important for us to be there for them.”
Jess Brandes was a golfer who was invited by some of her friends who work with Catholic Charities. “They invited me to join them and I said sure,” Brandes explained. “I really appreciate the good work they [Catholic Charities] are doing and the parishes are doing to support those in need.”
For Charles Schubert, the event was a family outing. “I have my grandson, my daughter, and my wife,” he explained. Schubert signed up for this golf outing because of the Catholic Charities mission to help others. “We are our brother’s keeper and that is why I am here,” he said.
Participants enjoyed afternoon golf, a delicious meal generously provided by City BBQ, and a tasty dessert donated by Nothing Bundt Cakes.
For more pictures of the event, please visit www.CatholicCharitiesRaleigh.org/golf-2018.