Puttin' on the dog for a good cause

Looking for a grill thrill, or just a bit of summer fun? Oscar Mayer is auctioning a chance to "ride Shotbun" in the Wienermobile.

Hot dog fans nationwide can bid on eBay, and the proceeds will go to support the Oscar Mayer Good Mood Mission to benefit Feeding America, a leading national hunger-relief network that includes Long Island Cares of Hauppauge.

Grill mavens have until Friday, June 4, to take a chance at eBay.com/OscarMayer. The prize includes the use of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile for one day, a catered Oscar Mayer brand cookout with all the fixings for up to 50 people and everything needed to make the day perfect, including a grill and grilling utensils, a cooler and to help hot dog season last throughout the year a one-year supply of Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs!

Ty Burrell, who plays Phil Dunphy in the hit TV show "Modern Family," has been named the Oscar Mayer Good Mood Ambassador.

In addition to the eBay auction, there are four more chances to Ride Shotbun by joining the Good Mood Mission. Enter this part of the fundraiser at www.goodmoodmission.com and click on the Ride Shotbun tab before July 31 and explain what you would do with the Wienermobile for the day. The prize includes the chance to Ride Shotbun in the Wienermobile, along with $5,000 to help spread good moods.

For those who simply want to help, Oscar Mayer is donating 1 pound of food to Feeding America for those who go to goodmoodmission.com and share what makes a good mood.

Feeding America is network of organizations that feed more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million senior citizens. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit feedingamerica.org.