MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - On October 18th, the Meridian Cares Team held their annual Meridian Cares Benefit Fundraiser at Old Chicago.

Those who attended were able to purchase a wristband for $5 and enjoyed a fun evening of karaoke, food and drinks, giveaways and more.

The fundraiser was to help Meridian Township families in financial need as 20% of all food and drink purchases went to the Meridian Cares Emergency Needs Fund. Receipts were also collected during the event to help raise the necessary donations to help these families.

According to the U.S. Census, about 13% or 5,000 people in Meridian Township live below the poverty level and almost 3,000 people live below 50% of the poverty level.

Many attended including Meridian Township residents and officials such as Human Services Specialist, Darla Jackson; who spoke about the turnout of this event and what it meant to the community.

"There has been a very good outpouring of support from the community and we have done very well each year we seem to be doing better than the previous year."

"The people that I have seen over the last few days, that are about to be evicted or a couple of people that have actually had their utilities completely shut off it means they can get the help they need so that they are not in the cold or that they don't end up out on the streets or in a shelter because there is that help available. It is fantastic that this community has this program because it's not very common."

Meridian Cares aims to raise $10,000 by the end of this year to replenish the Emergency Needs Fund that helps Meridian Township residents.