Every year, about 4,000 luminarias line a track in Lawrence.

They are part of Relay for Life of Douglas County, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Each luminaria represents the life of someone who survived cancer, is battling cancer or died of cancer.

This year’s benefit begins at 7 p.m. June 12 and ends at 7 a.m. June 13 at South Junior High School, 2734 La.

The event aims to raise awareness about a disease that affects millions nationwide. About 1.5 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed this year.

The event also raises money to help fund cancer research and, it is hoped, find a cure. Last year, the Douglas County community raised about $180,000.

Now, Relay for Life organizers are raising awareness about another issue: hunger. They have teamed up with the United Way of Douglas County to help fill food pantries.

Instead of putting sand in the bottom of the luminaria bags to hold them down, it is hoped that each bag can be filled with a nonperishable food item.

“We are always asking for donations, so it’s a great way to just give back to the community,” said Stacie Schroeder, community manager of development for the American Cancer Society.

The food drive couldn’t come at a better time for pantries.

“Last summer, we had to close down the food pantry several times just simply because we ran out of food,” said Aaron Smith, director of community relations at The Salvation Army’s Lawrence operations.

Jeanette Collier, coordinator of East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corp., said its food pantry serves between 500 and 900 families per month.

“Definitely, in the summer, the need is larger because we have children home from school. Half of the consumers that we serve through our pantry are children,” she said. “The other group that I am seeing growing in terms of food needs are the elderly.”

Not only will the food items help satisfy hunger, they also will help the environment. In year’s past, the sand was put into plastic bags and then put into the luminarias. The plastic bags were needed because the sand would get moist overnight and tear the bottom of the luminarias, leaving sand on the track.

“The American Cancer Society is trying to go green. We are trying to be nice to the environment and we are trying to help other people in the community,” Schroeder said. “We just thought this was a great way to give back to the Lawrence community since they’ve done so much to make the relay successful.”