Westside Food Bank is in the running to win enough money to provide 200,000 meals thanks to the efforts of Kim Koury, the organizer behind the annual SANTA Monica Pub Crawl.
Koury is currently a top five finalist for Examiner.com’s “America Inspired” Award after being selected from a pool of about 200 nominees nationwide after she was recognized for her work creating the pub crawl that benefits the Westside Food Bank.
Now through Jan. 27, Koury is asking for the Santa Monica community to sign-up and vote for her daily in the “passion” category.
If she has the most votes at the end of contest period, she will collect a $50,000 check that will all go to Westside Food Bank, which will help the non-profit provide about 200,000 meals to those in need.
“I’ve been involved in many civic and charity projects over the years, but never before have I been so moved by the plight of people in my own community,” Koury said. “There are ‘nice-to-haves’ and then there are the essentials in life, and if a child is hungry, it’s the community’s responsibility to step in and do something. Call it Christian charity, call it civic duty, but it’s not something we can afford to let slip through the cracks.”
Koury said the Westside Food Bank sometimes had to turn people away when the shelves were empty.
“I want those shelves packed with food year-round,” she said. “Hunger knows no season.”
She said the Westside Food Bank wasn’t just a charity, but rather an essential service. “We’re talking about feeding the children of a single mom who works two jobs, feeding the elderly who have no family, and feeding the homeless,” she said. “The Westside Food Bank is run with the utmost efficiency, and when I was searching for somewhere to make a difference, I was so moved by the staff’s commitment.”
To vote, visit Examiner.com, click on “America Inspired” and search for Kim Koury’s name in the category of “Passion.”
The winner will be announced on Feb. 1.
Visit Koury’s page directly to vote at: http://www.examiner.com/happy-hour-in-los-angeles/craving-cocktails-santa-monica-pub-crawl-feeds-the-needy-this-christmas.
