SPANISH FORT, Alabama— Prodisee Pantry needs your help to meet its fundraising goal this year at its annual Pennies for Prodisee Pantry fundraiser tomorrow.

This year’s goal was one million pennies, or $10,000 dollars. So far, only $1,200 has been raised for the group, said Prodisee Pantry Executive Director Deann Servos.

Prodisee Pantry will end its fundraiser tomorrow, May 3, with a “penny party” at Bancorp South in Spanish Fort.

“We are encouraging people to come out and bring their spare change to help out their neighbors,” Servos said. “$10,000 will feed about 500 needy families in our area. We are a long way off from our goal right now.”

From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow, Bancorp South, a partner with the pantry, will host the fundraiser where people can come in and donate their spare change.

“We will have pizza and drinks and balloons for the kids,” Bancorp South Branch Manager Jennifer Gorum said. “It is a fun event for the kids. Last year we had kids coming in with their piggy banks. It’s a great way for them to feel like they are contributing, that they can give back.”

If you don’t have any spare change lying around, Prodisee will also accept cash and checks. Pennies and spare change can go far at Prodisee Pantry though. The group buys its food for pennies on the dollar from government surplus.

“It costs us on average just $20 to provide a family in need with about $120 worth of groceries,” Servos said. “We can feed a lot of people with just a little. We serve about 1,000 families a month at Prodisee Pantry. There is a great need, and we need the community’s support.”

While today’s event is the official end of the fundraiser, the group will continue accepting pennies throughout the year.

“We want to meet our goal,” Servos said. “If that is how people want to give, then we will gladly accept donations that way. This party is also a way to say thank-you to our community for their support of us.”

The Pennies for Prodisee Pantry party takes place today from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. , Friday, May 3, at the Bancorp South located at the corner of U.S. 31 and Highway 225.