TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The 11th annual Beat Auburn Beat Hunger food drive and collection contest between The University of Alabama and Auburn University will run through Nov. 18, with donations of canned and nonperishable food being accepted for the West Alabama Food Bank.

UA students and Tuscaloosa residents are asked to help “can” Auburn University by donating nonperishable food items in the annual “food fight.” The 2004 goal is to collect 75,000 pounds, and hopes are high that the Crimson Tide will prevail. Last year UA collected 65,000 pounds of food, losing to Auburn’s 72,000 pounds. The winner will be announced during halftime at the Iron Bowl game Nov. 20.

Canned food, rice, beans and other nonperishable food donations can be dropped off in the collection truck on the Ferguson Center Plaza or in donation bins placed at local Winn-Dixie stores and many locations on campus. Monetary donations are accepted at the UA Office of Community and Volunteer Services, 355 Ferguson Center, and through donation cans at local businesses.

Winn-Dixie in Northport on McFarland Boulevard has already donated 2,000 pounds of food to Beat Auburn Beat Hunger. The store recently hosted a kickoff party with UA football players on hand to sign autographs.

All food collected goes to stock the shelves of the West Alabama Food Bank in Tuscaloosa. This nonprofit organization is the main supplier for churches, missions and food kitchens in nine counties of West Alabama, some of which rank as the poorest counties in the country.

“The Beat Auburn Beat Hunger Food Fight is not only extremely important to the West Alabama Food Bank but to the community,” said Craig Young, director of the West Alabama Food Bank. “Food collected by student organizations is distributed to needy households throughout the holidays by 65 member agencies. The generosity of UA students, staff and other supporters along with their competitive spirit makes this annual food drive a huge success, and everyone wins.”

For more information about the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger Food Fight, contact the UA Office of Community and Volunteer Services at 205/348-2865 or Craig Young of the West Alabama Food Bank at 205/759-5519.