Scaling a tall Columbia building to help fight hunger

People will be climbing the walls in downtown Columbia this weekend.

Well, rappelling down them.

Over the Edge To End Hunger, a benefit for Harvest Hope Food Bank, will have folks rappelling down The Hub on Main Street Friday and Saturday.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Debbie Summers of Harvest Hope. “We’re very excited. It’s fun, but it’s all about feeding people.”

Anyone who has raised $1,000 or more for Harvest Hope Food Bank during this campaign will have the option of rappelling. Several businesses have made donations and tapped rappellers to represent them.

Here are five reasons to participate in – or at least watch – the rappelling involved in Over the Edge To End Hunger:

1) Rappelling 326 feet down a 21-story building is … fun?

“It’s a bucket-list type of event,” Summers said. “But the bottom line: It’s a good thing for a good cause.”

2) Over The Edge USA has trained professionals who train participants and has had more than 500 successful events with more than 25,000 successful “Edgers.” Over The Edge USA puts on these events all over the country, but only for nonprofit groups.

3) There will be some “VIP” rappellers, including Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews and the Columbia Fireflies mascot.

4) If you watch the rappellers and decide to be spontaneous and do it yourself, you can do that – for a $1,000 donation to Harvest Hope Food Bank. “It’s all about feeding people,” Summers said. Oh, and they will accept credit cards at the event.

5) Summer is a critical time for Harvest Hope Food Bank. “It is a busy time,” Summers said. “Kids are home from school and eating breakfast and lunch at home. Grocery bills are higher. We have families who need in the summer who don’t use us any other time of the year.”

THE VIBE: You could do a 5K walk or run to raise funds to fight hunger in our community. Or, you could go big – and, at 326 feet high, it doesn’t get much bigger.

THE VERDICT: This is a one-of-a-kind event. Even if you’re not doing the rappelling, head downtown for a look.

Lezlie Patterson, Special to Go Columbia