Bouncing and helping feed hungry kids

OK parents, listen up. If you have young children, here's how this good cause works: Thursday, take your kids to BounceU -- Charlotte's hot partay spot for the little and big -- with two or more cans of non-perishable food and a buck.


Your children will get to bounce around for an hour in one of BounceU's bounce houses, and the cans of food they bring will go to Second Harvest Food Bank. They'll get fed free pizza and chicken wings by Hungry Howie's, and their faces will get painted up by FunTATstic Body Art. Parents can bounce around, too.


You've got to make reservations (call 704-921-8771). As of noon today, Thursday's slots were filling up fast, so BounceU owner Scott Hamilton has extended the same deal to Friday, minus the pizza and face painting. He's also built in time to bounce and raise food on Saturday and Sunday, except you have to pay a little more, 5 bucks, for each child. BounceU is at 10624 Metromont Pkwy.

Hamilton calls the cause "Kids Feeding Kids." He's owned the 9,000-square-foot business for a year and held other benefits there for children with special needs, church organizations, scout groups.

"One of the rewarding sides of owning your business is being able to reach out and give back," Hamilton said. "It's a no-brainer. Hopefully we'll get new people coming in and they'll come back. And hopefully kids coming in to bounce will learn a lesson, too: They're having fun, but giving something back to help other kids."

Here's the schedule for an hour of bouncing and a good cause:


Thursday: 9 to 11 a.m.; 1 to 6 p.m.. Friday: 9 to 11 a.m.; 1 to 6 p.m. Teen night: 8 to 11 p.m., teenagers can get in on Kids Feeding Kids, with two cans of food and $5. Saturday: 9 to 11 a.m.; 1 to 11 p.m.. And Sunday: 9 to 11 a.m.; 1 to 6 p.m.

But remember: You've got to make reservations (704-921-8771).