Fans of VCU, Virginia Tech compete to support food banks

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University fans can show their support for the Rams and the region’s most vulnerable residents by collecting food and money for FeedMore’s Central Virginia Food Bank.

The Rams compete against the Virginia Tech Hokies at the 2013 Governor's Holiday Hoops Classic on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 5:30 p.m. at the Richmond Coliseum. Fans of the Rams and Hokies will compete in the weeks leading up to the tournament to see who collects the most pounds of food. The winner of the food drive, held from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, will be announced at halftime.

The winner of a similar competition between Hampton University and James Madison University will be announced during halftime of their game, which also takes place at the Richmond Coliseum, beginning at 3 p.m. on Dec. 21. VCU President Michael Rao and the presidents of the other universities are serving as co-chairs of the Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic.

VCU’s effort is called “RAMS Win To Feed.” Students, faculty, staff and supporters can donate money at www.feedmore.org/holidayhoops. One dollar equals four pounds of food. 

In addition, VCU fans can donate non-perishable food items at the Siegel Center during the following sporting events:

• volleyball vs. Duquesne on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. (and receive a $3 discount)
• men’s basketball vs. Winthrop on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.
• women’s basketball vs. Elon on Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. (and receive a $3 discount)

Non-perishable food items also will be collected from Nov. 19 to 21 at a variety of sites on both campuses. A detailed list of drop-off sites and additional information is available at http://wp.vcu.edu/ramswintofeed/.

The Rams and the Hokies last met on the basketball court in 1995. The former Metro Conference competitors have split their head-to-head series 10-10, with the Rams winning the most recent meeting, 62-57.

FeedMore is Central Virginia’s hunger-relief organization and serves the region’s most vulnerable residents through the Central Virginia Food Bank, Meals on Wheels Serving Central Virginia and the Community Kitchen. 

Tickets for the 2013 Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic are available through the VCU Athletics online ticket office. For more information about the “RAMS Win to Feed” effort, contact Tom Diehl at (804) 827-0322 or tdiehl@vcu.edu or Tito Luna at (804) 827-1904 or taluna@vcu.edu