‘Hunger Games’ comes to Bentworth
Madison Mincome, 21, of McMurray, collects property while playing Monopoly at the Bentworth Blessings in a Backpack fundraising event. Proceeds go to the program, which helps district students who don’t have enough food otherwise.
Tristan Hackinson, 8, of Bentleyville, waits for his next instructions while playing a giant Twister game.
From left, John Hackinson, Merlene Polansky, Susie Macik, Kimberly Tucker and Diane Rudy demonstrate how the large version of Monopoly will be played. The winners of the smaller monopoly games (pictured behind) went on to play the life-sized monopoly game at the end of the event.
Samantha Hindman, 12, of Bentleyville, breathes a sigh of relief after pulling a brick free from an oversized game of Jenga without knocking the pile over. In addition to Jenga, participants could play oversized versions of Twister, Candy Land and Monopoly.
The Bentworth community had its own “Hunger Games” Saturday night, and they were better than any action movie.
“The Ultimate Family Game Night” – the event’s actual name – raised money and raised the roof on fun, drawing about 500 participants to the high school gym to play on a life-size Monopoly board and other games.
It was a fundraiser organized and operated by Bentworth Blessings in a Backpack and its offshoot nonprofit, Bentworth Blessings, which oversee the food service program designed to wipe out hunger among district students.
“We’ve heard a lot of good and amazing feedback,” Jennifer Cario said Sunday. She is coordinator of the backpack program and founder of the nonprofit.
“There have been pictures and messages on Facebook. Tons of people are asking if we’re going to do this next year. We definitely plan to do this next year.”
They should. Cario said Sunday the inaugural game night brought in at least $20,000, the goal going in.
“We’re pretty happy,” she said. “We wanted to get the word out this year. We should be able to get more event sponsors next year, so we should significantly increase the amount we raise.”
Blessings in a Backpack is a national program in which districts provide food for students who are included in the federal Free and Reduced Price Meal Program. There are about 170 “Backpack” students in Bentworth, and each gets a backpack of nonperishable, single-serve food to take home for 38 weekends in the school year.
The district has been in this program for less than two years. Bentworth Blessings was formed to expand upon it, including instituting a summer food service. But because Bentworth, geographically, is so expansive, many of the affected students have difficulty picking up food in June, July and August.
“There is no centralized location in the district,” Cario said. “We’re rural, and it’s tough to get kids to the school. So, we want to bring food to the kids.”
Bentworth Blessings is striving to purchase a food truck, from which to serve items at certain locations. Cario said the organization, which already has eight board members, needs $25,000 for the vehicle, including insurance and other costs. She said the group, ultimately, would like to offer this service five days a week, but acknowledges that may not happen this summer.
It reached the 80 percent mark Saturday, thanks to sponsors, donors, a pre-game spaghetti dinner and the games themselves. A specific figure won’t be available until about midweek.
The home of Bearcats basketball, for one afternoon and evening, was home to four life-size games that drew players of all ages and sizes. The feature was a Monopoly game that was sewn together by Vickie Evans, Cario’s mother. Instead of Ventnor Avenue, Park Place, et al, the spaces bore names of local businesses and individuals who bought them. Each sponsor paid the sales price of the spot they took on the traditional board.
All spaces were purchased except one, which was renamed St. Victoria Boulevard, in Evans’ honor.
Qualifier games were played at tables throughout the gym, with winners advancing to the big board for the final tournament. JoBeth Post earned the $250 first prize.
Monopoly did not have a monopoly on game participants, as Candy Land, Mega Twister and Giant Jenga attracted hordes as well.
The response was gratifying, but not surprising to Susie Macik, the principal at Bentworth Elementary School. She has witnessed many outpourings of support during her nine years as principal.
“This community has been amazing,” she said. “We also have a fabulous (educational) staff that gives things to kids – shoes, coats, whatever they need.”
A Santa Sack program, in which 75 sacks are filled with toys and personal hygiene items for elementary students, was started about six years ago.
“As that grew, we saw we had some kids who were hungry,” Macik said. So faculty members started donating food and putting it in backpacks for kids — without knowing about the national backpack initiative.
The district found out about that program and Macik, the elementary administrator, did some elementary math. She said about 200 students were considered to be in need, and that it costs about $80 to $100 to sponsor each child in the program. That’s $16,000-plus.
“Where do we get $16,000?” she said. “But the school board was supportive and we just started campaigning. We went to churches, people in the community and companies. The $16,000 came pretty easily.”
Community cooperation was readily evident a few frigid weeks ago, when Bentworth canceled classes on consecutive days. The freeze had been forecast, putting the Backpack recipients in peril of receiving their weekend items.
“This magical group came together Wednesday and put together bags,” Macik said. “When there are delays, some students come in hungry. Teachers have granola bars and other items to tide them over.”
When it comes to education, she believes food is as important as food for thought.
“If you’re hungry, you can’t learn,” Macik said. “If you can’t learn, you can’t grow. If you can’t grow, you can’t be successful. You can’t dream what you want to dream.
“We want our kids to think anything is possible.”
And know the community is behind them, which was abundantly evident Saturday.