With the seemingly relentless winter weather coming at us, it’s hard to believe that Spring is just around the corner. The Food Bank of South Central Michigan can’t afford to take a rest as they spring into action, making plans for 2008’s Spring Food Raiser events.

This year’s slate of events kicks off with the Feinstein Challenge, which runs March 1 through April 30. Philanthropist Alan Shaw Feinstein will help the fight against hunger by giving a proportional match to donations made during the challenge.

Watch out for a special insert in the Sunday edition of the Battle Creek Enquirer on March 23, Easter Sunday. This envelope will be a great way to help the Food Bank with monetary donations. Just send your donation back to the Food Bank in the envelope provided.

April Fool’s Day, April 1, will be bringing out some local celebrities who are willing to act a little “foolish” in order to support the Food Bank during the April Food’s Day Media Celebrities Shopping Sweep. This event will take place at the Marshall Family Fare Shopping Center at 11 a.m. Jackson area celebrities will also be participating in a food-raising event with the Jackson Area Media Supermarket Sweep. This event will be hosted by the Jackson Felpausch Food Center at 11 a.m. later in April.

During the entire month of April, Pampered Chef will once again be doing their part to alleviate hunger. During Round-Up From the Heart, individuals who purchase items from Pampered Chef during in-home cooking demonstrations or kitchen shows, will be given the chance to round up their purchase price to the nearest dollar, or more. The additional money will then go to America’s Second Harvest and local food banks with the A2H network, including the Food Bank of South Central Michigan. The Pampered Chef network has donated more than $12 million since 1991, making it a national campaign with a big local impact. those who make a donation will also receive a Food Bank cookbook free.

The Michigan Education Association will once again be holding a “Souper Kids” event starting March 1. Kids from the greater Battle Creek area participate by bringing cans of soup into their schools.

Combining the fight against hunger and a lot of creativity, the Canned Sculpture Exhibit is always a popular event. From April 19 through May 4, participating groups design and construct a work of art made entirely of non-perishable food that will later be donated to the Food Bank. Last year over 16,000 food items – 9,253 pounds – were used to construct a variety of imaginative and heart-felt tributes to the battle against hunger. This event is sponsored by Scene Magazine and hosted by Lakeview Square Mall. Visitors to the mall will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite sculpture.

Stuff the Bus with Re/MAX Perrett Associates on Saturday, April 19. Help these community-minded realtors fill their bus with non-perishable food donations in the Pennfield Felpausch parking lot.

The Battle Creek Knights are doing their part to fight hunger with more fundraiser and foo-raiser opportunities.

Local letter carriers will be “Stamping Out Hunger,” by collecting food door-to-door in the greater Battle Creek area May 10. Last year the Marshall and Battle Creek chapter of the National Assocation of Letter Carriers donated 13,555 pounds of food to the Food Bank.

This year’s Skid-A-Thon will take place on May 12 from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the Food Bank. Local companies donate skids of food to the Food Bank and compete against each other to see who can donate the most food. Past donations have included skids of macaroni & cheese, soup, spaghetti sauce, ice cream and much, much more.

The Food Bank of South Central Michigan is a United Way Program Delivery Partner, a member of America’s Second Harvest and the Food Bank Council of Michigan.

For more information on the Food Bank or ways you can help, please visit their website at www.foodbankofscm.org or call (269) 964-3663.