The public is invited to fight hunger by shooting clay pigeons

Auctions. Been there. Golf tournaments. Done that. Anxious to keep fundraising for the Emergency Food Network (EFN) fresh, board member and KeyBank executive Darren Schuldheiss has taken aim at a new approach that combines two of his passions: fighting hunger and shooting clay pigeons out of the air.

On August 1, 2014, the Gig Harbor Sportsman’s Club will host 100 shooters for the annual “Breaking Hunger” Trap Shooting Tournament, one of the few fundraising events of its kind in the Northwest. In teams of five, each shooter has the opportunity to break 50 clay pigeons and compete in an archery contest.

Participants pay an entry fee and are encouraged to find friends and family to pledge money to support their efforts. The money will go toward accommodating the increase in demand for food at the 60 food banks, meal sites, and shelters that EFN serves.

Information and registration info can be found at www.efoodnet.org.

Schuldheiss, director of client relations for Key Private Bank in Tacoma, not only came up with the concept but, for the last three years, has been the driving force to make it happen, supported by the Gig Harbor Sportsman’s Club (GHSC), the annual host of Breaking Hunger.

“I have been amazed at the gracious reception that the Gig Harbor Sportsman's Club has exhibited since I first brought this idea to them,” says Schuldheiss. “The club really cares about the community and has a rich history of that. Le Rodenberg, the GHSC president, has been a fantastic resource, as has his wife Jeannie, a long-time volunteer at the FISH Food Bank in Gig Harbor. Members have generously volunteered to be involved in a variety of ways to make this event a success.”

Participants will range from some of the top shooters in the state to novices. While there will be prizes for skill, the real goal of everyone involved is to raise money for Emergency Food Network.

Emergency Food Network’s mission is “to provide Pierce County with a consistent, diverse and nutritious food supply so that no person goes hungry.” EFN distributes nutritious, staple food to 60 food banks, shelters and hot meal sites in Pierce County. They do this through a combination of sources, including purchased food, food donated from grocery stores and food distributors, food received from food drives, and food grown at EFN’s eight-acre organic Mother Earth Farm, which produced 100,000 pounds of fruits and veggies in 2013, distributed to food banks on the day of harvest.

EFN is the primary distributer of emergency food in the county, distributing $12 worth of food for every $1 donated. With the demand at food programs increasing 69% since 2008, EFN’s efficiency and reliability is more important than ever.

“The goal of Breaking Hunger,” says Schuldheiss, “is to have a safe, fun event that raises enough money to put $250,000 worth of food on Pierce County tables.”