Beat Auburn Beat Hunger ramped up their kick-off week with a pie to the face for Jack “The Face” Blankenship at the Ferguson Plaza Wednesday to begin the 18th annual BABH food drive.
The program dates back to 1994 when The University of Alabama Community Service Center and the West Alabama Food Bank teamed up to challenge Auburn University and the Food Bank of East Alabama, according to the BABH website.
Taking advantage of the storied rivalry between the two schools, the light-hearted competition works to combat hunger and poverty in Alabama. Nearly 3 million pounds of food have been collected for Alabamians without enough to eat since 1994.
The West Alabama Food Bank services the Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties. According to the BABH website, 20 percent of the families living in those counties live below the poverty line.
“BABH’s main objective is to help alleviate hunger insecurity in the West Alabama area,” Haley Clemons, director of public relations and outreach for the CSC, said. “The two schools create friendly competition by engaging the community and creating awareness of hunger insecurity. Yes, we are fighting for a trophy (and we want to win), but the positive impact that the competition has on the community is what BABH is all about.”
The University of Alabama won the food fight last year, collecting 237,079 pounds of food compared to Auburn’s 134, 102. Andrés Mendieta, student director of BABH, said this year’s program hopes to up last year’s collection.
“We’ve definitely been off to a great start in this first week of BABH,” Mendieta said. “Our goal this year is 250,000 pounds, and I’m confident that the UA community will be able to come together to reach that goal. I’m excited to see the results after these six weeks.”
Faculty members from the CSC work closely with student directors and committee members to organize and promote over 15 events to raise money and collect food items.
Local businesses like Cold Stone Creamery and Buffalo Wild Wings will host fundraiser nights throughout October, and BABH will sponsor events like “Can-or-Treat,” where students will collect cans door to door in local neighborhoods.
Students who can’t make it out to fundraising nights can still get involved. Students can text “BAMA” to 27222 and reply “yes” to donate $5 to the West Alabama Food Bank. The donation will be added to your phone bill, and each dollar donated will provide 2 pounds of food.
“Students can also come to our American Red Cross Blood Drive event,” Clemons said of the Oct. 30-31 event. “For every pint collected, Sam’s Club will donate a non-perishable food item to BABH.”
Students can also drop off canned goods at Express Oil Change & Service Center, according to the BABH website.
