Grayson Vs. Snellville: 'Give Hunger the Boot' Challenge

Submitted article

During the past three years, Give Hunger the Boot has helped raise more than $10,000 in food and financial donations for the Southeast Gwinnett Food Co-Operative.

Created by Snellville Council Member Dave Emanuel and his wife Kathy, Give Hunger the Boot, which serves the area’s needy, has worked primarily through promotions involving Snellville area businesses.

That’s about to change - in a big way.

Grayson Mayor Allison Wilkerson and the Grayson City Council and staff have challenged the City of Snellville to a donation-raising contest.

“I was thinking about ways to raise canned and dried food donations for the Co-Op and I thought, ‘Why not a good old-fashioned challenge?’” Wilkerson said. “Snellville has the Give Hunger the Boot program and that’s perfect, so let’s see which city can give hunger the biggest boot.”

Snellville Council Member Emanuel welcomed the challenge.

“Mayor Wilkerson has come up with a great idea that’s a win for everybody,” he said. “The Co-Op will receive a huge increase in donations at a time when they’re needed most and win or lose, both Snellville and Grayson will have helped a great local cause. The Co-Op does an outstanding job helping families in the Snellville, Grayson and Loganville area Give Hunger the Boot.”

The City Council and staff members of both cities will lead the charge by setting up drop-off stations, storing the food and delivering it to the Co-Op on Jan. 19. On that day, in honor of Martin Luther King’s birthday, both cities will haul their donations to the Co-Op, where they will be counted and the winner declared. The loser will have to build a parade float and Council Members of both cities will ride on the float in the Snellville Days and Grayson Day parades.

The challenge is open to residents so anyone can participate by dropping off canned goods or dried foods at Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road, Grayson City Hall, 475 Grayson Parkway, or any of the other drop off points established by the cities. For a list of locations, go to Give Hunger the Boot’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pages/Give-Hunger-the-Boot/295935703770365).

For more information, contact Snellville at (770) 985-3517 or Grayson at (770) 963-8017.

— Submitted by City of Snellville

(Photo: Snellville Council Member Dave Emanuel and Grayson Mayor Allison Wilkerson have organized a canned food drive competition to benefit Southeast Gwinnett Food Co-Operative. The loser will have to build a parade float and Council Members of both cities will ride on the float in the Snellville Days and Grayson Day parades.)