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SCHOOLS KICK OFF 5TH ANNUAL ‘U CAN CRUSH HUNGER’ COMPETITION

For the fifth year, Community Harvest Food Bank and six area schools are partnering in a food drive competition to benefit families in northeast Indiana. University of Saint Francis, Indiana Tech, Huntington University, PFW, Manchester University, and Ivy Tech are raising food and funds with a goal of collecting 50,000 pounds of food for the holidays. Generous sponsors for the event include Two Men and a Truck, Planet Fitness, First Federal Bank, and PFW Wellness.

Last year, 45,000 pounds of food were collected, which provided 37,500 meals to families experiencing hardship. The University of Saint Francis won the trophy for most food and monetary donations collected in 2018, with a total of 17,694 pounds.

All food donated is weighed, and each dollar donated counts as four pounds toward the winning school’s total. The 2019 U Can Crush Hunger event will run October 21st through November 5th. Community members who would like to support their school of choice in this competition can visit www.CHFB.org for more details on how to donate securely online or in person.

“To date, we have collected over 160,000 pounds of food, which has stayed right here in northeast Indiana,” said Carmen Cumberland, Executive President, Community Harvest Food Bank. “In the fifth year of this event, we are proud to say that thousands of families have benefited from food donated through this competition that continues to grow. Huntington University, Indiana Tech, Ivy Tech, Manchester University, Purdue Fort Wayne, and the University of Saint Francis have all been incredible partners in hunger relief. We look forward to this new year of holiday hunger relief, and we couldn’t ask for better hunger relief champions.”

“Ivy Tech is so excited to participate in the 2019 U Can Crush Hunger food drive,” said Christina O’Brien, Director of Student Life, Ivy Tech Community College. “All of the food and items collected by our Fort Wayne campus will go to keeping Ivy Community Cupboard, our campus food pantry, stocked and serving those in need. Just like our great neighbors across the street, Purdue Fort Wayne, our food pantry serves not only our students, faculty, staff, and other employees and their families, but also our neighbors and community at large. We are so lucky to have great partners to compete with in a competition where everybody comes out the winner as we fight food insecurity in northeast Indiana.”

“We’re really excited to be a part of U Can Crush Hunger for another year,” said Caitlyn Laidler, Marketing/Sales Leader, Two Men and a Truck. “It makes it easy being the movers who care when you’re part of a community that truly does care. We’re honored to partner with Community Harvest Food Bank and our local universities to help crush hunger in northeast Indiana. We just want to say good luck to all the universities involved, and we’re excited to see what you do this year!”

The Waynedale News Staff

The Waynedale News Staff

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