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Drive Away Hunger Challenge Winners Announced

Published February 28, 2014

The results are in for the second annual Drive Away Hunger Challenge! Franklin High School won the prize for the highest total number of pounds of food collected, and Middle College High School won the prize for the most pounds of food per student.

Franklin High
#1 - Most Total Pounds of Food Collected
5,579 pounds of food

Middle College High
#1 - Most Pounds of Food per Student
5.9 pounds per student

The Drive Away Hunger Challenge is an annual competition hosted by Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group for all nine public high schools in Williamson County. Between the nine schools, over 11,000 students participated collecting 19,730 pounds of food that has gone straight into the GraceWorks Ministries food pantry.

“I’m thrilled with the partnership with the Williamson County schools,” said Susan Reagan, food pantry director for GraceWorks. “We help students by providing them with backpacks filled with school supplies in the summer and give many hungry students 'fuel bags' of weekend nutrition. In return, the schools have been very supportive of us by conducting food drives like the Drive Away Hunger Challenge."

Other honorable mentions in the challenge include Brentwood with 2,083 pounds, Centennial with 4,343 pounds, Fairview High with 1,275 pounds, Ravenwood with 2,549 pounds and Summit with 3,213 pounds.

The students and staff at Middle College High School, which also won last year’s challenge, were thrilled to learn they won the most pounds per student portion of the challenge.

“Each of our focus classes were challenged to compete with each other for the most food collected this year,” said Principal Dr. Brian Bass. “Although we are fewer in numbers than the other high schools, volunteerism and empathy for our community run high with our students.”

As a part of this year’s challenge, both Middle College and Franklin high schools will be presented with a $1,250 check from Darrell Waltrip.

“The Drive Away Hunger Challenge helps fill our pantry at a time when few others donate, yet we continue to give food to families 12 months a year,” said Reagan. “The cash part of the donation goes towards purchasing needed items for the fuel bag program. We love to see the spirit and enthusiasm of the staff and student body at the schools when we come and pick up the donations. It’s so much fun!”