“Every single dollar makes a significant difference,” Hallie Winchell of Oregon Coast Community Action said recently.

Especially when you’re trying to feed the hungry in Coos and Curry counties.

“We can buy seven pounds of food for every dollar donated,” she said.

That’s why ORCCA is holding its annual fundraiser, Dinner & A Movie, during the week of July 4-11. The week has been proclaimed Hunger Awareness Week on the South Coast.

It’s easy enough to participate. Just visit one of the restaurants participating in the fundraiser and a portion of that day’s proceeds will be donated to the program. Or, if you also would like to make a cash donation, there will be tent cards on the tables of the participating restaurants with extra envelopes for donations.

The event is in its second year, and 12 restaurants signed up to help, up from 10 restaurants in 2008. Seven of the restaurants will be participating the entire week, and five others will have special nights.

Kozy Kitchen will have all three of its restaurants (Coos Bay, North Bend and Myrtle Point) participating in the event the entire week.

Also participating all week are Mamma Mia, North Bend Lanes, Java Jones and Porta.

Those who are having special days include La Costa, Ciccarelli’s, Sozo Tea & Coffee, Benetti’s and Dave’s Pizza. The dates for the special events are in the graphic with this article.

Another event going on during Hunger Awareness Week is a communitywide food donation drive that will end with a Care-A-Van of donations going to CommunityAction.

“We’re getting a lot of good local support,” Winchell said. “It’s amazing how many businesses want to help with fundraising and the food drives.”

She said this year the need is greater than it’s been in the past.

“We’ve practically doubled the amount of food, and there’s still 16 percent more people going hungry.”

The movie this year is “Pay It Forward,” to be held at the Egyptian Theatre on July 10.