As the temperature drops and winter inches closer, golf may be the last thing on your mind. One local non-profit wants to change that.

Bunkers in Baghdad, the Buffalo-born charity that has shipped 2.4 million golf balls and 50,000 golf clubs to soldiers serving in more than a dozen countries and all 50 states, is turning three-years-old.

To celebrate, Bunkers is hosting a happy-hour get together at Mezza Restaurant, 929 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo Friday, Oct. 7 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Bunkers Founder Joe Hanna, an attorney with Goldberg Segalla LLP and president of the Minority Bar Association, will be serving as a guest bartender during the event.

Admission is $20 and includes drinks and appetizers. Proceeds from the evening will go to support Bunkers, specifically paying for the shipping costs to deliver golf balls and equipment to soldiers deployed worldwide.

"We have been fortunate that Western New York has really embraced our charity and done so much to support the brave men and women who defend our freedom everyday," Hanna said. "Our small part is just giving these soldiers a chance to relax and enjoy some recreation during what is such a stressful time in their lives."

Though Bunkers has grown to a national organization, Hanna says it will always be a Buffalo-born charity and the groundswell of support the local community has given — be it attending the annual golf tournament or coming out to support the happy hour events — is critical to its success.

"The people have been wonderful," he said. "We have had large companies like Callaway make donations of thousands of golf balls, but we have had so many people locally call up and donate a dozen balls, a bag of clubs, whatever they have, and it is those donations that make this charity thrive."

To learn more about the charity or with questions about the happy hour event, call Joe Hanna at 566-5447. As the temperature drops and winter inches closer, golf may be the last thing on your mind. One local non-profit wants to change that.

Bunkers in Baghdad, the Buffalo-born charity that has shipped 2.4 million golf balls and 50,000 golf clubs to soldiers serving in more than a dozen countries and all 50 states, is turning three-years-old.

To celebrate, Bunkers is hosting a happy-hour get together at Mezza Restaurant, 929 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo Friday, Oct. 7 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Bunkers Founder Joe Hanna, an attorney with Goldberg Segalla LLP and president of the Minority Bar Association, will be serving as a guest bartender during the event.

Admission is $20 and includes drinks and appetizers. Proceeds from the evening will go to support Bunkers, specifically paying for the shipping costs to deliver golf balls and equipment to soldiers deployed worldwide.

"We have been fortunate that Western New York has really embraced our charity and done so much to support the brave men and women who defend our freedom everyday," Hanna said. "Our small part is just giving these soldiers a chance to relax and enjoy some recreation during what is such a stressful time in their lives."

Though Bunkers has grown to a national organization, Hanna says it will always be a Buffalo-born charity and the groundswell of support the local community has given — be it attending the annual golf tournament or coming out to support the happy hour events — is critical to its success.

"The people have been wonderful," he said. "We have had large companies like Callaway make donations of thousands of golf balls, but we have had so many people locally call up and donate a dozen balls, a bag of clubs, whatever they have, and it is those donations that make this charity thrive."

To learn more about the charity or with questions about the happy hour event, call Joe Hanna at 566-5447.