By Amanda McGregor
SALEM — A football signed by Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker and a one-hour massage are among the raffle prizes up for grabs at a fundraiser this Friday to benefit the Salem Alliance of Food Pantries.
The evening event, called Together Against Hunger, will feature live music by the Lexington Street Band and a Battle of the Pizza Shops in which guests will enjoy and weigh in on pizza donated by a dozen North Shore pizza parlors.
The North Shore Networking Association is organizing the fundraiser, which will benefit the Alliance of Salem Food Pantries, including St. Joseph's Food Pantry, Harvest of Hope and The Salem Pantry.
"We believe in giving back to the community, and we decided this was a good cause," said association president Ken Chiarello, who lives in Swampscott and works as an attorney in Topsfield.
It is set for 7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus by the Salem Common.
"We're looking forward to it," said Veann Campbell, volunteer director of St. Joseph's Food Pantry.
Campbell said the pantry is "beyond busy," serving approximately 4,000 families.
"We've been blessed with food and volunteers," Campbell said. "We are looking for a new building — we're just tripping over ourselves," she said of the pantry, on Hawthorne Boulevard, which is also launching a pet pantry in January to donate to families who would otherwise have to abandon their pets.
The local pizza shops that are donating pizza to Together Against Hunger are Engine House, Big Peter's, Sammy's, Damata's, Upper Crust and Giovanni's in Salem; Cravings in Beverly; Vesuvius in Marblehead; and Hot Cheese Pizzeria, Pizzeria Uno, Tony Lena's and Captain Pizza in Swampscott.
The raffle prizes include paintings, a facial, hockey tickets, a hair cut and style, restaurant gift certificates and more.
The North Shore Networking Association is an independent business networking organization founded in May 2008 that has about 21 members in the Salem chapter and will soon open a chapter in Beverly.
"We have decided as part of the community we want to do two charity events yearly," said Natalie Femino, a mental health counselor who is a member of the association.
The association organized a benefit for HAWC in March.
Want to go?
What: Together Against Hunger, to benefit the Salem Alliance of Food Pantries
When: Friday, Nov. 20, 7 to 11 p.m.
Where: Knights of Columbus, 94 Washington Square East, Salem
Cost: $20 in advance; $25 at the door
Entertainment and food: Live music by Lexington Street Band, raffles, and Battle of the Pizza Shops
Information and tickets: For more information or to buy tickets online, visit www.northshorenetworking.org
Donations of canned goods will also be accepted.
