A popular Pike County fund-raiser just got even better.

Hardee’s in Bowling Green is offering extended bulk pre-orders of $1 sausage or egg biscuits as part of the Feb. 9 “Rise & Shine” promotion in partnership with Heat Up St. Louis and NECAC.

Customers who order 25 or more biscuits at a time before noon each day through Feb. 8 can pick them up the following morning. Orders must be made online at www.heatupstlouis.org and designate the Bowling Green restaurant as the pickup point.

The 24th annual Rise & Shine one-day, in-restaurant event is from 6 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9, in Bowling Green and at Hardee’s restaurants in the St. Louis area.

All proceeds from sales at Bowling Green will stay in Pike County to help income-qualifying elderly, disabled and low-income people pay utility costs. Heat Up St. Louis organizes the event, which covers 34 Missouri and Illinois counties.

“The Hardee’s Rise & Shine event is crucial to assist our low-income neighbors with their winter heating bills,” said NECAC Pike County Service Coordinator Penny Dixon. “We are especially glad to see that bulk pre-orders have been extended. We encourage people and businesses to participate as they can.”

Last year’s Rise & Shine event raised a record $900,000 in the region. In addition to Pike, NECAC receives funding for Lincoln, Warren and St. Charles counties.

NECAC also contracts with federal and state funding sources to provide assistance for paying utility bills through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP). Applications are available at www.necac.org or by calling the NECAC Pike County Service Center at 573-324-2207.

In the featured image, NECAC Pike County Service Coordinator Penny Dixon receives a donation from Al Himmelsbach during last year’s Hardee’s Rise & Shine.