Beat Auburn Beat Hunger Starts Annual Food Drive

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The 32nd annual Beat Auburn Beat Hunger food drive gets underway Oct. 3 at The University of Alabama.

The drive runs through Nov. 20 and results will be announced the following day.

A kickoff event will be held on the steps of the state capitol in Montgomery Oct. 6 at 10:30 a.m. Representatives from UA and Auburn University will be on-hand as Governor Kay Ivey will make donations to both universities.

The Beat Auburn Beat Hunger food drive raises awareness about food insecurity while collecting donations for the West Alabama Food Bank. According to Feeding America, one in six people, including one in five children, struggle with food insecurity in Alabama.

"Getting involved with Beat Auburn Beat Hunger means more than just beating Auburn and supporting our campus," said CC Hahn, president of Beat Auburn Beat Hunger. "It means directly impacting families in our community who face food insecurity every day. Every donation, whether time, money, or canned goods, brings us one step closer to ensuring that families and members of the West Alabama community have food."

The annual Beat Auburn Beat Hunger campaign features students with UA's Center for Service and Leadership competing with the Beat Bama food drive at Auburn. With donation barrels stationed across campus and the city of Tuscaloosa, students, faculty, staff and community members can donate conveniently.

In addition to collecting canned and nonperishable foods, Beat Auburn Beat Hunger will also accept monetary donations. Every dollar donated is equal to two pounds of food, or five meals, the West Alabama Food Bank can provide to those in need.

Since its inception in 1994, UA and Auburn have raised more than 8 million pounds of food.

For a list of donation barrel locations, instructions to donate monetarily and other fundraising opportunities, visit the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger website.