Nov. 20, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - After collecting more than three tons of food for the needy and raising more than $700 for the same cause, fans can still help feed the hungry heading into the holidays.
Starting with a collection at the Purdue-Iowa football game that yielded 6,007 pounds, Boilermaker student-athletes rounded up an additional 800 pounds of nonperishable goods. That total equates to nearly 5,000 meals. In addition, $730 was raised at collection points on Nov. 8. That accounts for another 5,500 meals.
"The total number of meals we will be able to provide because of your food drive is well over 10,000," said Melissa Benefiel of the Food Finders Food Bank, the United Way agency that helped coordinate the drive. "That is huge!"
Food Finders provides food for dozens of human-service agencies and other outlets in Tippecanoe and surrounding counties.
The drive continues this Saturday, when the volleyball team takes on Illinois at the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility. Canned goods and other nonperishable food items can be dropped off at the entry gates.
The second annual food drive is a project of the wives of the Purdue football coaches and the Captains Table, made up of leaders of the 18 intercollegiate squads.
"We want to help people right in our own backyard who need it," said Arnette Tiller, who leads the effort. "We thank the fans and student-athletes and others who opened their hearts and donated."
The food drive continues until Nov. 25.