TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama won the 2009 Beat Auburn Beat Hunger Food Drive by collecting 175,653 pounds of food to top Auburn University’s collection of 164,034 pounds of food.
“I am so proud to be a part of this university community. Together we have raised over 175,000 pounds of food for the West Alabama Food Bank and won the food fight competition against Auburn University for the third consecutive year,” said Regina Pena, UA student coordinator for the food drive.
“I would like to thank everyone who participated in Beat Auburn Beat Hunger and donated to the West Alabama Food Bank. It is because of this university community and the Tuscaloosa community that we are still able to donate thousands of pounds of food during these economic times,” she added.
The annual event, created by the UA Community Service Center and the West Alabama Food Bank some 15 years ago, takes place during the four weeks leading up to the Iron Bowl football game between the two schools.
Students, faculty, staff, alumni and the west Alabama community “fight” Auburn University and the Food Bank of East Alabama to see who can collect the most nonperishable food for people in need in the area and in surrounding counties.
The finals were announced today. This is the third year in a row that UA has won the competition.
The two universities have collected close to 2 million pounds of food since the event’s inception in 1994.
Contact
Linda Hill, media relations, 205/348-8325 or lhill@ur.ua.edu
Source
Josh Burford or Regina Pena, UA Community Service Center, 205/348-5586, reginapena@yahoo.com