FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bates holds auction to benefit hungry

LEWISTON, Maine -- As part of Hunger Awareness and Action Month, students at Bates College will hold an auction at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, in Chase Hall Lounge on the Bates campus to raise funds for and awareness of the plight of the hungry. The public is invited to participate and attend free of charge. Local businesses and members of the Bates community have donated goods and services to be auctioned with all proceeds to benefit Oxfam America and the Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine.

Bates students have lined up donations from Freeport area merchants, including Patagonia, Ben and Jerry's and the Haraseeket Inn. The students welcome any kind of donation in the form of goods and services, such as catered dinners, art, crafts or baked goods.

"We hear a lot these days about the booming stock market, low unemployment and increased opportunity," said Elizabeth Marquardt, assistant chaplain at Bates College. "Yet, the simple fact is that these are not the best of times for everybody. Despite a booming economy, the number of people experiencing hunger in the United States increased in the last year, and around the world, almost 24,000 people die each day from hunger or hunger-related causes."

The auction is sponsored by the Bates College Unitarian-Universalist Association. Hunger Awareness and Action Month at Bates College is sponsored jointly by the Office of the Chaplain, the Multicultural Center and the Multi Faith Council.

The deadline for donations is Friday, Nov. 12. To find out about making donations or for more information, call Marquardt at 207-786-6215.