4th Annual 'Hoos for the Hungry' Food Drive to be Held Oct. 10-Nov. 14

Oct. 10, 2007 – Madison House, Alternative Spring Break, U.Va Bookstores and University of Virginia Dining are again sponsoring "Hoos for the Hungry," a food drive to support the Thomas Jefferson Area Branch of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network. Drop boxes will be located at the U.Va. Bookstore above the Central Grounds Parking Garage, Courts & Commerce at the U.Va. Law School, The Crossroads at O-Hill, Lambeth Convenience Store, Bice and Faulkner houses and Madison House through Nov. 13.

Cash donation boxes will also be available at the U.Va. Bookstore, Courts and Commerce, the Darden Exchange, TJ’s Locker and the U.Va. Medical Center.

Organizers are hoping to top 1,000 pounds in food donations, plus an additional monetary donation.

The Thomas Jefferson Area Branch serves the City of Charlottesville, and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Greene, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock. It is a division of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network, which serves about one-third of Virginia, providing food for 16,500 people each week in 25 counties and nine cities.

 “In Charlottesville alone, there are more than 8,800 people living in poverty," said Ruth Jones of the food bank network. "When you factor in the surrounding eight counties served by the Thomas Jefferson Area Branch of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network, there are nearly 34,000 people living in poverty in this area, so this food drive is essential to achieving our mission of eliminating hunger.

"We deeply appreciate what these U.Va. factions are doing because without their support, and the uplifting of other like-minded individuals, we could not succeed.”

Items of particular need include:

Peanut butter
Canned meats
Canned tuna
Pastas/rice
Canned fruits or fruit cups such as peaches, pineapples and pears
Canned vegetables such as peas, corn and green beans
Apple, grape, or pineapple juice boxes
Strawberry or grape jelly
Pork and beans
Soups such as chicken noodle, vegetable and tomato
Spaghetti sauce
Beef stew
Chili with beans

For information about the food drive, contact Patrick Perkins at (434) 924-1496 or jpp2s@virginia.edu.

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