The Marching Virginians and New Life Christian Fellowship are joining forces again this year to sponsor a massive canned food drive in conjunction with the Virginia Tech versus Georgia Tech football game on Thursday.

The goal of the ambitious 14th annual Hokies for the Hungry drive is to collect 66,233 cans of food – one can from every fan.

Andre Smith, who plays tight end for the Hokies, is serving as honorary chairperson of Hokies for the Hungry. “This is the time of year that many of us get together with friends and family to celebrate the holiday season,” said Smith. “There are many families and individuals in our region who are less fortunate, and this is a wonderful opportunity to share with them. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I hope fans of both Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech will contribute to this wonderful cause during the start of the holiday season.”

Drop-off points for Hokies for the Hungry will be established at all entrances to Lane Stadium and various locations near the stadium where Tailgate Pep Bands will be performing prior to kick off.

All contributions will be distributed through the Montgomery County Christmas Store.

Commonly known as The Spirit of Tech, Virginia Tech’s marching band is in its 37th year. Under the direction of David McKee and Tony Marinello, the band will present highlights from two of the greatest Broadway shows of all time, “Dirty Dancing” and “West Side Story,” as well as the music of Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and other artists during the 2010 season. 

Founded in 1974, The Marching Virginians have performed for hundreds of nationally televised football games and parades. They also performed at Virginia Tech’s recent bowl games, including 2009 Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta as well as the 2008 and 2009 FedEx Orange Bowl games in South Florida.

For more information, contact Katie Sonntag, public relations officer for The Marching Virginians at (540) 841-0733.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.

Share this story