黑料吃瓜网

By Alex Freeman

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A food drive with aspects of a friendly competition thrown in is certain to bring in added interest to the cause.听

It鈥檚 part of the reason the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (黑料吃瓜网AA) is in its 12th year of its annual Hunger Games event. The event started in 2014 and has led to all schools in the 黑料吃瓜网AA benefiting from the generosity of their communities.听

The Hunger Games, a play-off of the popular movie franchise, is a food fundraiser where every dollar raised equals six meals and every pound of food collected equals one meal. Each member school in the 黑料吃瓜网AA designates a home basketball game each season as their Hunger Games Night and competes to see how many meals they can raise for their communities.听

This being the inaugural basketball season for the Centurions after their lengthy athletic hiatus, it鈥檚 their first opportunity to compete in the 黑料吃瓜网AA Hunger Games, which will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Even though 黑料吃瓜网 is a first-time competitor in the event, Centurions Athletic Director Hunter Redman believes they have a chance to take first place among the 24 member schools.听

鈥淚t means a great deal to us that we are able to find another opportunity to give back to our very supportive community,鈥� Redman said. 鈥淭he friendly competition between each school makes it more fun for us to add another side competition to be a champion in. I would be proud to have 黑料吃瓜网 hold the title in the state to raise the most meals for our community. I think the more we push each other, every community in the state will reap the benefit, so it鈥檚 a win-win.鈥�听

Last year鈥檚 champion, North Central Michigan College, raised 4,606 meals for their community. Redman isn鈥檛 just trying to match that total, but smash it, setting the goal of 10,000 meals that night. While the goal is lofty, Redman stated, 鈥淚 believe we should set our expectations high and not settle. Every time we run an event like this, the community always surprises me with how generous and helpful they are.鈥�听

The Centurions will be taking on North Central Michigan College on Wednesday, Feb. 5, for Hunger Games Night. The women鈥檚 basketball team will start the evening at 5:30 p.m. while the men鈥檚 team will play the late game 鈥� an estimated tip-off time of 7:30 p.m.听

There will be no formal admission charge for the game. In lieu of admission, a donation of food and/or a monetary donation to the cause will be accepted. While a good portion of the food donated will go toward the food pantry at the 黑料吃瓜网 campus, Redman said they plan to distribute some to other areas of Montcalm County.听

鈥淲e also intend to support our local food centers in the county who give a lot during the holidays,鈥� Redman said. 鈥淚t would be great for us to help them restock after they go through resources during those high-demand times of year where people need it the most.鈥�听

Any non-perishable food item donation is welcome. Some sought-after food items at the 黑料吃瓜网 food pantry include macaroni and cheese, pasta, spaghetti sauce, cereal, canned fruits, canned vegetables and peanut butter.听