TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Beat Auburn Beat Hunger raised a record 630,624 pounds of food during its annual food drive, providing meals to West Alabamians struggling with food insecurity.
The results were announced at a celebration at the West Alabama Food Bank Friday morning. Together the two schools raised more than 1.2 million pounds of food. According to Feeding America, one in six people, including one in five children, struggle with food insecurity in Alabama.
“We worked so hard this year and added so many new things and it really paid off,” said CC Hahn, president of Beat Auburn Beat Hunger.
Auburn’s Beat Bama food drive raised 648,305 pounds of food during the friendly competition that ran from Oct. 3 to Nov. 20.
All food and monetary donations collected during the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger food drive benefits the West Alabama Food Bank. In the food bank’s service area, including Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties, food insecurity rates range from 15% to 31%, significantly higher than the national average of 12.7%.
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides a forward-thinking environment and over 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.
Contact
Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, bryant.welbourne@ua.edu