Doors at Assembly Hall will open at 5 p.m. prior to Hoosier Hysteria at 6 p.m. Admission to the event is free, but HHFB is asking attendees to bring a canned food donation, according to the food bank.
HHFB Executive Director Julio Alonso said the event is one of the food bank’s largest food drives, but last year’s numbers were lower than expected.
“It’s traditionally been one of our top two food drives, but unfortunately last year’s event was down significantly,” Alonso said in a press release. “In 2012, we collected 12,540 pounds of food, but that dropped to 4,302 pounds last year, and truthfully, it hurt us.”
The food bank has distributed more than 3 million pounds of food in 2014 as of the second week of October, with July and August being the biggest months in its history, according to HHFB.
In 2013, the food bank distributed nearly 3.7 million pounds of food. HHFB distributes this food to nearly 100 nonprofit agencies in Monroe and five surrounding counties.
Alonso said the food bank’s donation numbers have been down at some of its biggest food drives this year, but distribution numbers are still up.
“Our biggest food drive, Stamp Out Hunger in May, was also down significantly this year, so it didn’t last as long,” he said. “Our supply is down right now, but we’ve still distributed 6 percent more food through September of this year.”
Earlier this month, the food bank won a $60,000 grant via Walmart’s Fighting Hunger Together campaign. HHFB plans to use this grant to purchase enough bread, peanut butter and jelly to make about a quarter of a million sandwiches.
Holly Hays
