Falcons Fighting Hunger began as an incentive for student athletes to exchange food donations for fewer practice hours, but it has grown to include everyone in the community.

The Student Athlete Advisory Committee runs Falcons Fighting Hunger, which takes place at sporting events and is a program to collect donations for the Christian Food Pantry in Bowling Green.

Emily McClelland, vice president of personal development for SAAC, said the event has grown throughout the year with this past year, being the biggest turnout of volunteers and food donations they’ve ever had, bringing in more than 500 cans of food.

Waller said she hopes this year brings in even more.

“We didn’t do volleyball last year, so we’re hoping to get even more this year,” Waller said.

Waller said the event is a good way for athletes to help the community.

“I think it’s a really great program because it involves getting the student athletes involved in the community and helps them reach out to community members,” Waller said.

If guests don’t bring food with them, they can make monetary donations, said Shirley Woessner, director of the Christian Food Pantry.

“A lot of times people want to donate, but they just didn’t know about it so they just hand us cash donations,” McClelland said.

Donations can be given during the hockey game Nov. 2, the volleyball game Nov. 9 and the football game Nov. 12, McClelland said.

Food and cash donations go to the Christian Food Pantry in the city.

Woessner said they serve approximately 200 to 300 people a month and are always in need of donations.

“Donations are down, but we accept anything we can get,” Woessner said.

Woessner said while there are homeless in the city, many people who come have a home, but just not enough income to buy food.

“The people that come to us generally have a place to live but the income they have, if they have income, isn’t enough to pay the bills,” she said.

After paying for things such as rent and utilities, many don’t have enough money for food, Woessner said.

The pantry is “like a grocery store,” she said.

“We give them food and we always have information for them for where they can get help,” she said.

Though food donations are needed, cash donations are useful for the pantry as well. Woessner said they use the funds at the Northwest Food Bank, where they can purchase cheap food and get some free items.

While the Christian Food Pantry deals primarily with serving food, they are willing to accept many things, such as soap and other hygiene products.

“I don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” Woessner said.