As the holidays come knocking, so does hunger in Utah County.
BYU and U of U will team up from today through Nov. 26 for the annual BYU vs. U of U food drive, a 17-year tradition between the schools.
Richard Bean, president of BYU Student Alumni Association, said although the food drive rivalry between the schools has died down quite a bit, community hunger has not.
“Though the food drive involves a competition between BYU and the University of Utah, it is really the community that wins,” Bean said in a news release. “The food and money donations we collect are wonderful gifts to Utah families during the holiday season.”
Every donated dollar translates into 17 pounds of food that will go to needy families during this holiday season.
Charlene Winters, who works with Alumni Relations, said the rivalry is a good thing when it comes to the food drive.
“It is a really positive thing,” Winters said. “Both schools are highly motivated to do the very best they can, and it is a way they can help eradicate hunger in some way.”
Winters also said it is important for students to step out of BYU and serve the community during this great time of need.
Students are being challenged to fill the 63,000 seats in LaVell Edwards Stadium by donating food or money to help feed the almost 63,000 people who now live below the poverty line in Utah County. Highlighting the football theme of the food drive, Taylor Veater, vice president of traditions events, said students are being challenged to “tackle” hunger and pack every seat in the LaVell Edwards Stadium with donations.
Students and community members don’t have to donate their thanksgiving dinners to help. Bins will be placed around campus and Provo where students can donate canned food. People who want to help in another way can also purchase Y Cards in $1 or $5 increments at the Bookstore, Cougareat, Creamery and other businesses around the community.
Although this is a community event, the success depends on the activity of students. Bean reemphasized what many Church leaders have taught about service.
“The act of giving starts when you’re young and carries through to when you’re old,” Bean said.
