I am now less than 9 days from performing a feat that I hope to never do again: skydive! But it’s all in the name of charity.

This crazy plan began as somewhat of a challenge by some friends. Today, it has become a fundraiser that is earning money to help feed our less fortunate friends and neighbors in Kosciusko County.

The Combined Community Services Food Pantry is in dire need of donations and StaceyPageOnline.com has heard their cry for help. Thus far, $1,500 has been raised for the food pantry through StaceyPageOnline.com, but more money is needed!

“Food is such a huge need and such a basic need,” says Peggi Lisenbee-Wright, director of client services for CCS. The CCS Food Pantry serves an average of 560 families per month – or about 1,960 individuals.

Even though CCS receives regular donations of bread from Owen’s supermarkets, eggs from Midwest Poultry, and even pizzas from Little Caesar’s, there remains a constant need for breakfast foods, peanut butter and pasta, among other foods. The cost of stocking the food pantry with adequate foods totals about $2,500 per month.

With this fundraising event, which is aimed at gaining awareness and funding for the CCS Food Pantry, you can help CCS by donating directly. Your financial contributions are not only tax deductible, they allow the CCS staff to shop at the Food Bank of Northern Indiana where they are able to buy food for pennies on the dollar. Your money goes farther when it is directly donated.

You can also choose to skydive with me on Saturday, Oct. 27! The price of a tandem jump that day will be $185 and Skydive Great Lakes has generously agreed to donate $20 from every jump to the CCS Food Pantry.

The Goshen Airport is the site of the charity skydive and will also have a chili cook-off and be grilling out that day for everyone who comes to participate or just wants to watch!

If you are planning to skydive for the charitable event, please arrive to the airport at 9 a.m. The skydiving is planned to begin at around 11 a.m.

Also, if you’d like to receive a limited edition StaceyPageOnline.com keychain, you may stop by the Warsaw office of The Papers Inc., 214 W. Market St., and leave a minimum $10 donation for the CCS Food Pantry. Checks may be made out to CCS Food Pantry, or you can leave a cash donation. All donations will be given directly to CCS.

If you donate online, you may also print out your receipt and bring it in to The Papers office and you’ll receive a keychain, while supplies last.

My goal is to provide enough funding for CCS to stock the food pantry for two months. I’m jumping from a perfectly good airplane; I ask you all to donate just a few dollars for a worthy organization.