Gov. Kay Ivey kicks off food drive competition between Alabama and Auburn

MONTGOMERY, Ala. ( WIAT ) — The Beat Auburn Beat Hunger and Beat Bama food drives have raised over 10 million pounds of canned goods since its start in 1994.

As both universities compete to collect the most food and raise money, food banks say insecurity is on the rise.

“I brought my donation for the food drive, and I’m proud to be a part of this,” said Gov. Kay Ivey. And I just congratulate both Auburn and Alabama for being active in this regard. Thank you very much.”

Ivey proclaimed Oct. 7 as the Beat Bama Food Drive and Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger Day.

Martha Henk, executive director of the Food Bank of East Alabama, said the competition is critical for state communities.

“The ending of the tax credit, I think, has had a big impact on the poverty rate for children,” Henk said. “But also, the cost of groceries is pretty astonishing.”

Alabama was one of 14 states that did not participate in the federal summer EBT program this year. As previously reported, some have expressed concerns over administrative costs .

“In the past, we’ve had something like seven or eight different locations where those summer meals were available, and this year, we had to go to them and say, ‘Sorry, we don’t have it,'” Henk said. “And that was really tough.”

Lawmakers allocated $10 million toward funding the program next summer. Ginger Pegues, director of development for the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, said hunger knows no boundaries.

“Hunger is an issue. Hunger has so many different faces. It doesn’t matter what zip code you’re in, what city or town,” Pegues said. “You have neighbors that are making difficult decisions.”

Pegues said Alabamians can help those neighbors.

“Let your local, regional and national representatives know how important it is to ensure that our neighbors are taken care of and perhaps pitching in when there’s a big food drive,” Pegues said.

The University of Alabama and Auburn University hope to do just that. Ivey encourages everyone to participate in the competition to end hunger in Alabama now until the Iron Bowl on Nov. 30.

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