Hokie ClubROANOKE, VA. (Dec. 20, 2019) –Today, student-athletes, coaches and support staff from a number of Virginia Tech athletics programs, along with Kroger management, delivered and unloaded 440 turkeys donated by Kroger as part of Touchdowns for Turkeys. The turkeys were donated to the Feeding America Southwest Virginia and will go to local families who rely on food banks and food pantries to feed their households.
As part of Touchdown for Turkeys, Kroger pledged to donate 10 turkeys for every touchdown scored by the Hokies during the 2019 season. Virginia Tech finished the season with 44 touchdowns, leading to 440 turkeys donated by Kroger.
In addition to the turkey donation, Kroger also donated a full holiday meal to all 440 families who received a turkey at the Dec. 20 event. The meal included stuffing, corn, green beans, rolls and pumpkin pie.
"We celebrated every touchdown this season because that meant more food for people who need it most," said Allison McGee, corporate affairs manager for Kroger Mid-Atlantic. "It's our hope that this donation brings relief, nourishment and some holiday cheer to families facing hunger. And if knowing that the Hokies pitched in brings you joy, then we're happy to have helped make that happen."
"We love partnering with Kroger and Virginia Tech on this event because we know it raises awareness of hunger in the community, and also because it's a fun and unique way to distribute food," said Pamela Irvine, President and CEO of Feeding America Southwest Virginia. "Hunger is hard on so many families in our community that if we're brightening someone's day by having the Hokies helping, then it's all worth it."
Feeding America Southwest Virginia was founded in 1981 and serves 26 counties, including nine city regions, providing food or meals to those in need.
"It's always our pleasure to help uphold Virginia Tech's spirit of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve)," said head football coach Justin Fuente. "We were glad our team could personally participate in the turkey distribution a year ago. While our academic and practice schedule didn't allow us to be a part of that process this year, I did share with our team that our efforts on the field are helping our neighbors in need across Southwest Virginia. We appreciate our partners at Kroger for making this project possible."
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About Kroger's Mid-Atlantic Division:
The Mid-Atlantic Division operates more than 100 stores in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio. Based in Roanoke, Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic Division employs about 14,000 associates. Kroger is dedicated to eliminating hunger in the communities it serves through partnerships with nine Feeding America food banks and numerous local organizations. The grocers Zero Hunger | Zero Waste efforts are aimed at ending hunger in Kroger communities and eliminating waste in stores by 2025. Kroger also supports breast cancer research, the military and their families and more than 4,000 nonprofit organizations. Last year, Kroger Mid-Atlantic donated $5.5 million to charity and 3,295,485 pounds of food to food bank partners.