The Gators, SEC promote ‘Together We CAN’

September 25, 2008

The University of Florida’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will be working together with the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to promote the second annual league-wide food drive, Together We CAN, at all home events this weekend. All 12 SEC institutions are participating in the week-long event by collecting food and financial donations at various sporting events and on campuses.

Florida’s SAAC kicked off the 2008 football season by introducing the Inaugural Canned Goods Challenge for Kids. Every home football game, student-athlete volunteers collect canned food goods at the Alltel Wireless FanFest, located at Gate Two of the O’Connell Center, to donate to the Mighty Food Bank in Gainesville.

This week, the Gators are joining the rest of the SEC, as all of the conference schools team up to give back to their respective communities.

Fans are encouraged to bring canned goods to UF’s home soccer matches at 7 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Sunday, as well as the 12:30 p.m. Gators football game against Ole Miss.

Student-athletes will be collecting the donations 45 minutes before each soccer match, and at FanFest, three hours before kickoff at Saturday’s football game.

At the conclusion of the drive, the SEC will announce the total amount of donations from the 12 schools and highlight the work done by the student-athletes.

Last year, the SEC donated more than 40,000 pounds of food to local food banks and shelters.