TOLEDO--A Jiggs Dinner and “half-way to St. Patty’s Day” party is planned for Sept. 17 at Shawn’s Irish Tavern. The event will help re-stock the emergency food pantry at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns.

Called “Fill Your Belly and Feed Your Neighbor,” the evening features Jiggs dinners from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and a performance by “Extra Stout” beginning at 8 p.m. There is no cover charge, but canned goods will be collected at the door.

The “Feed Your Neighbor” program and Society of St. Vincent de Paul serve the needy living within the parish boundaries, regardless of faith. St. Patrick’s parish boundary lies between Reynolds Road and Byrne Road and is bordered by the Anthony Wayne Trail and Angola Road.

In the wake of the economic downturn, St. Vincent de Paul and the “Feed Your Neighbor” program have experienced an increased demand to provide services, while realizing a decrease in donations.  Between July 1 of 2008 and June 30 of 2009, St. Vincent de Paul provided food, rent and utility assistance, bus tokens, referral services and spiritual aid to 1,813 people living within the parish boundary. One hundred seventy-two bags of emergency food were given out by “Feed Your Neighbor” and $3,195 worth of grocery store gift cards also were distributed during the same time period.

As the weather begins to turn cooler and utility bills rise, it is expected that the requests for emergency food will increase. In order to be prepared, St. Patrick’s is hoping to collect 150 cans of food. Shawn’s is also going to donate $5 from the sale of each Jiggs dinner.

“We know we have a great need, but we also wanted to help meet that need by doing something fun — something where our donors could have a great time,” said Pam Mohler, St. Patrick’s development director. “Shawn’s is a natural South-end neighborhood gathering place and they are generous to help St. Pat’s put on this event. We hope people will come out to support us and our south Toledo families in need.”