Beat Auburn Beat Hunger Food Drive Kicks Off at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The annual Beat Auburn Beat Hunger “food fight,” sponsored by The University of Alabama Community Service Center, will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 13, with an event from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Ferguson Center Plaza.

The month-long competition challenges the students and fans of both schools to raise more canned food and cash donations for their local food bank before Nov. 19.

UA won the competition in 2007 and 2008.

“We hope that Auburn is as motivated as we are to continue the rivalry and fulfill our shared mission of providing aid to families in need in Alabama,” said Caitlin Looney, 2009 Beat Auburn Beat Hunger coordinator. “Last year our total food collected was more than 270,000 pounds, and we’re expecting even more this year.”

The Oct. 13 event will feature a chili cook off. There is no charge, but a $1 donation is suggested for the chili sampling and rating. Several local restaurants will participate. 101.7 FM will provide entertainment with a live broadcast from the plaza starting at 11 a.m. and additional entertainment will be provided by event co-sponsor University Programs.

Since 1996, Beat Auburn Beat Hunger has become a tradition on both campuses. “The rivalry aspect is what makes this event so much fun and really gets people fired up,” said Looney. “But it’s important to remember that no matter which school collects the most donations, at the end of the day no one is going to feel bad about giving away that much food to the needy in our communities.”

To donate or for more information, go to the Community Service Center Web site at www.volunteer.ua.edu and click the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger programs link at the top of the page, or e-mail beatauburnbeathunger@gmail.com.

The Community Service Center’s mission is to educate students for service advocacy and leadership, civic responsibility and lifelong volunteerism by increasing awareness of community needs, resources and opportunities for social problem solving. The CSC and UA students contributed more than 425,000 hours of service last year.