Spring Harvest Challenge brings in the greens

Staff Reports

Hays County, Texas – This year’s winner of Hays County Food Bank’s annual Spring Harvest Challenge is the AVID Club from Miller Middle School in San Marcos. Students got into the spirit of giving and collected nearly 425 pounds of pantry food items to donate to help feed their neighbors in need.

The Hays County Food Bank visited the students to announce the AVID Club as the winners and present the trophy at a special assembly.

The Food Bank acknowledged the time and equipment Hill Country Trophy contributed by adding Miller Middle School’s name to the traveling trophy. 

The kids said they were passionate about giving back because they know how difficult it can be to learn on an empty stomach. According to the Food Bank, they are grateful for their hard work during the challenge and hope that they continue to be hunger warriors as they grow. 

The Spring Harvest Challenge also strongly encourages fresh fruit and vegetable donations.

Healthy fresh foods are vital to a healthy lifestyle, and Hays County Food Bank were excited to announce that this year’s challenge brought in more than 500 pounds of beautiful fresh produce. Gorgeous swiss chard, various lettuces, radishes, cucumbers, onions, and more were donated from local gardens and farms.

This year’s runner’s up were A.Y. Raam Farms, LLC, for their impressive 250-pound donation of beautiful, fresh vegetables. The Food Bank says the number is even more impressive when you consider how much of their contribution was fresh greens that do not weigh much on their own.

Hays County Food Bank said they are grateful for all who contributed to this year’s challenge.

“The real winners are local families in need who get to enjoy the bounty of donations, but the food bank hopes everyone had some fun with this friendly competition,” the Hays County Food Bank said in a statement. “(We) hope even more groups wish to participate in 2022!”

Additional thank you from the Food Bank was given to Kyle Correctional Facility, Dunbar Neighborhood Garden, Alamo Garden, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority for participating in this year’s challenge. Everyone’s donations during this challenge helped provide ~33 families with a week of food!

If you’d like to host your own food drive, please contact Community Relations Coordinator, Iris Tate, at itate@haysfoodbank.org or by phone at (512) 392-8300 x230.