Student Collect Hundreds of Pounds of Food for Area Hungry as Part of 2011 Charlotte Student Hunger Drive Event

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The 2011 Student Hunger Drive weighed in their final amounts today and announced the results of the Second Annual Charlotte Student Hunger Drive tonight at the Awards Rally held at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Students from 16 area high schools collected 86,023 pounds of food worth over $196,000. The year’s collection total is a 77% increase over the inaugural year.

Natalie Jenkins, Executive Director of the Charlotte Student Hunger Drive, said the 2011 drive was a huge success.

"I am thrilled to report an increase in pounds in just our second year,” Jenkins said. “I am so proud of the hard work that the students put into the collections especially given the economy. I’m also thankful to those in the community who supported our students in this tremendous accomplishment. Together we provided 56,333 meals which will feed those in need during the holiday season."

Kareem Boykin, Food Lion Community Relations specialist, spoke to the large crowd about Food Lion’s appreciation to partner with the Charlotte Student Hunger Drive.

"Food Lion is honored to serve as the presenting sponsor of this important community event and pleased to support schools participating in an endeavor important to us, alleviating hunger,” Boykin said. “For six weeks, you have worked very hard and used your creative wisdom to collect canned food for Mecklenburg County’s hungry and we at Food Lion applaud you."

Winners of the 2011 Charlotte Student Hunger Drive school awards were as follows:

Most Pounds Per Student

1st Place ($2,500 award) – Cannon High School with 10.49 lbs. per student

2nd Place ($1,000 award) – Hickory Ridge High School with 8.52 lbs. per student

Most Improved ($500 award) – Garinger High School a 206% increase over 2010 pounds

Food Lion Student MVP Award: Given to a student who went above and beyond in their leadership during the Student Hunger Drive. The Food Lion MVP Award, a $250 Scholarship, was given to Nation Ford High School Junior Forrest Holloman of Fort Mill.

"This is such as surprise to me." Forrest Holloman, Food Lion MVP Winner said. "I just took the project and ran with it for my school" Holloman said after receiving the award at the event Wednesday night.

Snyders-Lance Freshest Idea Award: Given to the school with the most creative collection event of the Student Hunger Drive.

1st Place ($500 award) – East Mecklenburg High School

Awards of $100 were given to schools that collected over 5,000 pounds:

Ardrey Kell High School; Charlotte Catholic High School; Olympic High School; Providence High School; Hickory Ridge High School, Fort Mill High School, Nation Ford High School, and East Mecklenburg High School

Special Thanks to the 2010 Student Hunger Drive Charlotte Sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor: Food Lion

Major Sponsors: Chick-fil-A, Snyders-Lance, Inc., Prairie Pizza (Domino’s Pizza), Pohlmann Foundation, Guys with Ties, Ruth’s Chris

Supporting Sponsors: Charlotte Bobcats, Carolina Panthers, Michael Waltrip Racing, FOX Charlotte, WCNC-Charlotte, DS Audio Video, Charlotte Checkers, Earvin Bird, Coca-Cola Consolidated Bottling, Hotel Sierra, Choate Construction

About Charlotte Student Hunger Drive

The Student Hunger Drive, a non-profit organization was founded in 1986 and has collected over 13 million pounds of food valued at over $24 million since its inception. The Charlotte-based organization founded in 2010, is based on the same model of the original Student Hunger Drive and collected over 50,000 lbs. in its inaugural year. The Charlotte Student Hunger Drive, strives to develop young community leaders while feeding those in need in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. Its mission is to unite and empower area high school students in the commitment to feed the hungry and promote volunteerism. For more information on Student Hunger Drive or student events and activities, please visit www.studenthungerdrive.org or contact njenkins@studenthungerdrive.org.

About Food Lion

Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C., is a subsidiary of Delhaize America, the U.S. division of Brussels-based Delhaize Group (NYSE: DEG) and operates more than 1,100 supermarkets. The company employs approximately 57,000 associates delivering quality products, low prices and service to customers in 11 Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com

 

Contact:

Food Lion
Natalie Jenkins, 704-941-1552
njenkins@studenthungerdrive.org