By Mike Cason
Student leaders from the University of Alabama and Auburn University joined Gov. Kay Ivey on the Capitol steps Monday morning to kick off their annual campaigns to battle hunger and poverty.
The governor made the first donations to the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger and Beat Bama food drives. Ivey posed for photographs with the students and mascots Aubie and Big Al.
The Center for Service and Leadership and the West Alabama Food Bank started the food drives 30 years ago. During the seven weeks leading up to the Iron Bowl, the food drive unites University of Alabama and Auburn University students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to fight hunger and poverty.
The food drives have collected donations to provide more than 10 million pounds of food for Alabamians in need, according to the organizers.
More information on the Beat Bama food drive, including how to donate.
More information and how to donate to the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger food drive.
Last year, the Beat Bama food drive raised 686,807 pounds of food, while the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger drive raised 326,644 pounds.
Over the 30-year history of the competition, Beat Auburn Beat Hunger and Beat Bama have each raised the most 15 times.
