With the annual Beat Auburn Beat Hunger food drive ending Nov. 21, students and employees are encouraged to help secure a victory over the tigers and make a difference in fighting food insecurity in West Alabama.
Kennedi Preston, president of Beat Auburn Beat Hunger, recently discussed how the UA community can get involved as we enter the homestretch.
Outside of adding to the Iron Bowl rivalry, what is the significance of Beat Auburn Beat Hunger?
One of the most significant aspects of Beat Auburn Beat Hunger is our commitment to raising awareness of the prevalence of food insecurity in West Alabama. 17% of adults and 23% of children in Alabama experience food insecurity. I don’t believe this is common knowledge, and my goal is to share this with as many people on campus and in the community as possible.
If people understand that hunger is something that affects people close to them, they may be more encouraged to do something about it, whether it’s by donating or volunteering their time.
How do the contributions affect the West Alabama Food Bank’s ability to support those who rely on its resources?
Jean Rykaczewski, CEO of the West Alabama Food Bank, presented us with an example at our annual advocacy night that has stuck with me. The food bank packages nearly 2,000 “secret meals” a week for school children to take home over the weekend. If this were not an option, some of these children would not be guaranteed a meal between lunch at school on Friday and breakfast on Monday morning.
Now, let’s expect this child to sit still and behave in class while also performing well on classwork. Hunger not only impacts physical health, but also various aspects of mental health and social health. A donation of $130 can feed a child for an entire school year. A $5 donation can provide 25 meals for those in need.
Our donations, and our advocacy efforts to tell people why they should donate, can help the food bank continue to feed kids and adults facing food insecurity.
How many members of the West Alabama community are supported through the efforts of Beat Auburn Beat Hunger?
The West Alabama Food Bank serves a population of around 315,000 Alabamians yearly, including children. More than 80% of these households that also receive food stamps report that their allocation runs out by the third week of the month. In addition to this, more than 13,000 children who are at risk of hunger in West Alabama live in families that “earn too much” to qualify for food stamps or free/reduced price lunches at school.
In these cases, the West Alabama Food Bank can bridge the gaps in our food assistance program.
How can students and employees get involved in the final stretch of the food drive to push UA to a victory?
There are several ways for students and employees to donate before the end of the drive! Freshman students can donate their guest meal swipes. Monetary donations can be sent via Venmo to the West Alabama Food Bank @WestAlabamaFoodBank, or on the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger website. The website also includes a list of red donation barrels around campus and the Tuscaloosa community.
