Virginia Tech wins 9th Annual Hokies vs. ’Hoos “Food Fight” presented by MARTIN’S
Richmond – For the two and a half weeks between the two UVA-Tech men’s basketball games this year, alumni and fans of fierce in-state rivals the Virginia Tech Hokies and the University of Virginia ‘Hoos have been participating in their own competition – to see which team could donate the most food and funds to FeedMore’s Central Virginia Food Bank. Going into the 9th Annual Hokies vs. ‘Hoos Food Fight presented by MARTIN’S, the ‘Hoos were looking to get their 5th win in a row. They led the 2013 Food Fight until its final day. Not to be defeated a 5th year straight, the Hokies came out strong down the stretch and proved victorious in one of the closest competitions to date.
The final score of the 9th Annual Food Fight: Hokies, 37,127 points; ‘Hoos, 33,548 points.
The fierce rivalry brings out the best in both schools, which raised a combined $10,629 and 15,629 food items this year. The total 2013 Food Fight donations yielded 68,774 meals for the hungry in Central Virginia. Each food item donated equals one point, each dollar donated equals 5 points and each 2-hour volunteer shift at the Food Fight’s food sorting event at the Central Virginia Food Bank equals 100 points. Online donations were collected at hokiesvshoos.com between January 24th and February 12th at midnight, and donations came in up until the final hour this year.
Titles sponsor MARTIN’S pushed the competition in their stores for two full weeks, collecting 7,681 food items and $2,425 at the cash registers. They also provided hunger boxes for fans to purchase for their team, containing 8 food items for $10. The White Oak MARTIN’S location on Laburnum Avenue collected 1,134 food items, the most of any MARTIN’S store.
“While a hearty congratulations to the Hokies for their win this year is well deserved, the real winner in the Food Fight is FeedMore,” said Jim Scanlon, MARTIN’S regional vice president. “There are too many Central Virginians today who do not know where their next meal will come from and MARTIN’S is proud to support these and other charitable causes that fight hunger in our local communities.”
New sponsor the YMCA of Greater Richmond brought in even more support for the Food Fight. Locations around the Richmond area collected 1,600 total food items for two weeks during the Fight.
James River High School won the competition between eight local elementary, middle and high schools, donating a total of 4,292 food items and $960 towards the Food Fight. James River has dominated the competition the past five years. Cosby High School came in second place with 1,138 items.
“We are thrilled with the success of this year’s Hokies vs. ‘Hoos Food Fight,” said Jeff Baldwin, FeedMore’s Media and Public Relations Manager.
“As we enter the spring months, we historically see donations decline while demand stays constant so this year’s Food Fight is an incredible jump start for FeedMore’s Central Virginia Food Bank, but we need the thrill of the ‘competition’ to continue year-round as we all fight to end hunger in our region.”
The Hokies now trail the ‘Hoos 5-4 all time in the series and will be looking to tie it up next year for the 10th Anniversary. Over the nine years of the Food Fight, Hokies and ‘Hoos have provided over 378,000 meals for the hungry in Central Virginia.
About FeedMore
FeedMore is the core hunger-relief organization for Central Virginia made up of the Central Virginia Food Bank, Meals on Wheels Serving Central Virginia and the Community Kitchen. Working together to efficiently and effectively fight hunger to enhance lives in our community, the FeedMore programs provide hunger relief to our region’s most vulnerable populations, particularly children, families and seniors.
Date: February 22, 2013
Contact: Katherine Keogh, U.Va. Club of Richmond, 804-814-2428; Jeff Baldwin, Media and Public Relations Manager, FeedMore, 804-237-8604
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