The Marching Virginians are proud to be hosting the 23rd annual Hokies for the Hungry canned food drive. For the past few years, The Marching Virginians have worked with New Life Christian Fellowship and the Blacksburg community to collect non-perishable food items and monetary donations for the Montgomery County Christmas Store. Specifically, we ask for “One Can from Every Fan!”
Graphic: Kat Vivaldi
The Marching Virginians have donated not only canned goods but monetary donations as well to the store. Each year, the band splits into groups and travels to different tailgating locations to perform for fans. In exchange, tailgaters donate money and food for their choice of song. The more money donated, the more likely you get to hear the Hokie Pokie with a performance from our Super Sousaphone section.
The Christmas Store serves the area as a place for less-fortunate families to buy food for the holidays. They are located in Christiansburg, but service families around Montgomery County. Their mission is to provide a private, dignified but abundant experience for their customers. Since 1982, they have been doing just that! Not only do they provide qualified families with holiday meals, but they are fortunate enough to sell discounted toys so that everyone can find something under the tree.
This year, The Marching Virginians had an in-band competition to see which section could donate the most canned and boxed foods. Over the course of the week, members brought in a variety of donations. On Thursday the 15th, it was announced that the Clarinet section had donated the greatest number of cans per person - about 27 cans per member! Overall, the band did exactly what our slogan suggests: we had one can from every member.
Last year, the event raised thousands of dollars and donated about 3,000 non-perishable food items. We are already on the road to DOUBLE that number this year. The band alone has already collected 2,743 cans!
Hokies for the Hungry is just one way The Marching Virginians give back to the community, but it might be our favorite. If you will be at the Miami game on Saturday, November 17th, please remember to bring your donations. If you cannot attend the game, visit The Montgomery Christmas Store’s website to see how you can contribute.