Norwin Lions hold sweet fundraiser to help students in need

Editor’s note: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Norwin Lions Club announced that its Cubcake Wars event has been canceled. Checks will be returned in the next week or so, planners add. Donations to the Kitty Sack Project are still being accepted via Norwin Lions, 3 Worthy Lane, Jeannette, Pa., 15644.

Bakers can showcase their skills and people with a sweet tooth can satisfy their cravings on March 29, as the Norwin Lions Club holds its annual Cubcake Wars.

The event will be held 1-4 p.m. in the Norwin High School cafeteria, 251 McMahon Drive, North Huntingdon.

Money from the eighth annual fundraiser goes toward the organization’s Kitty Sack Project, which provides food for 40-50 Norwin students over the weekends during the school year.

“Unfortunately, when many children in our community leave school on Friday, their last healthy meal is their school lunch,” says John Russo, Norwin Lions president, in a release.

The “kitty sacks” help fill a weekend food gap by providing child-friendly, healthy food, including fresh fruit, cereal, crackers and meals children can prepare themselves without having to use the stove.

The Lions partner with a local grocery store to provide the sacks’ ingredients, Russo says.

The Lions deliver the sacks on Friday mornings to three Norwin elementary schools — Stewartsville, Sunset Valley and Hahntown — and Hillcrest Intermediate School, Russo says.

“We are currently feeding 40-50 children weekly through our program,” he adds.

The cost to provide the food for one child for a school year is almost $400, with a program total of about $20,000 annually.

Bakers are invited to make the cubcakes, which will sell for $2 each.

They can vie for trophies in categories including best cubcake, best table decorations, most money raised and people’s choice for best in show.

Details: norwinlions@comcast.net for an application or facebook.com/NorwinLions