PIEDMONT — An event this weekend aims to show people a good time while raising funds for the Piedmont Emergency Relief Center.

The Center is holding a Fall Festival Fundraiser 11:30 – 4:30 p.m. Saturday, October 1, according to PERC Director Michele Baier.

The festival will be held a Thomas C. Pack Memorial Park in Piedmont, which is located at the intersection of Donald Street and Marshall Street.

“We’re going to have inflatables, a kids area with crafts and face painting,” Baier said. “We’ll have music provided by Ken Wood and The Little Big Band.”

Horton’s Barbecue will be selling hot dog plates and barbecue plates.

“All proceeds will be given directly to the Piedmont Emergency Relief Center,” Baier said.

Those attending the festival are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Center’s food pantry.

The Piedmont Emergency Relief Center provides family with canned and dry food for approximately one week, Baier said.

The center, which is entirely run by volunteers, is open from 9 a.m. – noon on Mondays and Saturdays and from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Piedmont Emergency Relief Center is located at 3 Main Street in Piedmont, below the Community Building.

Due to the slow economy, PERC has seen an increase in demand on its food pantry in recent years.

Baier said the center’s numbered of clients has doubled since last month.

The center has also been impacted by the recent announcement that the Angel Food Ministries program has ceased operations.

“That’s going to effect us tremendously,” Baier said. “A lot of people come into our center to order Angel Food.”

The Angel Food program allows people to order food basically at cost.

“They put together boxes of food you could buy, and we distributed them through our facility,” Baier said.

For every box ordered through PERC, Angel Food Ministries would donate a percentage back to the center, Baier said.

“It’s not only going to hurt our donations, it’s going to hurt our clientele,” Baier said. “They’re not going to be able to get those Angel Food boxes of frozen meat and fresh vegetables any more. It’s a real shame.”

For more information about the Piedmont Emergency Relief Center or the Fall Festival, call 864-845-5535.