Healthy competition can go a long way as Northern Maine Community College and the University of Maine at Presque Isle will demonstrate during their Second Annual Food Fight food drive. The event will begin on Oct. 16, which is World Food Day, and end on Nov. 6. All food items will be donated after the event to Catholic Charities Maine.
UMPI Registrar Kathy Davis accepted the challenge after NMCC Vice President of Fundraising for Phi Theta Kappa, Crystal Condo, issued a rematch in September. Last fall, in honor of Hunger Action Month, Davis had the inspiration to begin a friendly competition between UMPI and NMCC in support of hunger awareness and to combat local food poverty issues in a meaningful way.
After last year’s successful event, when the two higher education institutions collected a combined 1,536 pounds of food, both UMPI and NMCC are looking to collect even more food donations and are vying for bragging rights and the soup can trophy that will go to the winner of the second annual Food Fight.
“I am thrilled that NMCC reached out to challenge us this year,” Davis said. “It’s exciting that both institutions think it’s important to continue the effort we started with last year’s Food Fight. While not everyone has faced the crisis of food insecurity, I think that everyone can imagine how horrible and disheartening it would be. So we’re very pleased to have this event help to support our neighbors and County residents who are facing food insecurity and give us a chance to help those who may be struggling to make ends meet.”
“NMCC’s Phi Theta Kappa is looking forward to taking up the challenge for a most worthy and basic human need,” Eric Pelkey, NMCC PTK advisor, said. “I’m proud of our students for once again showing their willingness to participate in the larger community and truly being ‘people for others’. We welcome friends and alumni to visit NM with a food donation anytime, but especially during our Homecoming celebration on October 23-24. This year, we hope to make an even greater impact on the problem of hunger in The County.”
This year, the competition start date has been set to coincide with World Food Day, as well as World Hunger Action Month during the month of October, and end on Nov. 6, giving both sides plenty of time to prepare and gather as much food as possible. At UMPI, there will be drop off zones in the Campus Center and the Center for Innovative Learning. At NMCC, the drop off zone will be in the Academic Success Center near the Christie Building lobby. All items donated will be weighed at the end of the event and the winner will receive the Food Fight trophy. Afterwards, all contributions will be donated to Catholic Charities Maine to help with hunger in the County.
This Food Fight is a two-campus-wide event and all students, faculty, staff, and alumni are especially encouraged to participate.
For more information, please contact UMPI’s Community and Media Relations Office at 207-768-9452 or NMCC’s Development and College Relations Office at 207-768-2808.
