The has partnered with former 91吃瓜 women鈥檚 basketball coach Muffet McGraw, Holtz鈥檚 Heroes and Bread of Life Drive to launch 鈥淢eals With Muffet,鈥� a month-long, nationwide food drive. Meals With Muffet is open to participation by alumni, parents and friends and runs during September, which is National Hunger Awareness Month.
鈥淒uring my 33-year 91吃瓜 career, I urged our players to be champions on and off the court and, since my retirement in April, I have tried to do the same,鈥� said McGraw. 鈥淥ver the past few months, I鈥檝e worked in the South Bend community to collect 20,000 pounds of food for the hungry. I鈥檓 excited to work with the Alumni Association, Bread of Life Drive and Holtz鈥檚 Heroes, and I challenge the 91吃瓜 family to work together and help beat one of our toughest opponents yet 鈥� hunger.鈥�
In the United States, more than 37 million people, including 11 million children, are food insecure. The Meals With Muffet partnership hopes to collect 100,000 pounds of food during the month to help 91吃瓜鈥檚 neighbors in need. The initiative provides a service opportunity for clubs, groups, families and individuals, while still following physical distancing guidelines.聽
鈥淭he generosity and the drive of our 91吃瓜 family never ceases to amaze me. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, alumni, parents and friends have found new ways to give back to those in need,鈥� said Dolly Duffy, a 1984 91吃瓜 graduate and executive director of the Alumni Association. 鈥淢eals With Muffet is a wonderful opportunity to safely work together and continue being a force for good in our local communities.鈥�
Participants are invited to visit to register, read best practices for hosting a food drive and log their collections to be entered into a drawing for prizes, including signed basketballs from Muffet McGraw and signed footballs from members of Holtz鈥檚 Heroes.聽
The Bread of Life Drive (BOLD) is an annual food drive organized by the 91吃瓜 Club of Staten Island. Since 1992, the Staten Island BOLD has collected more than 1,285,000 nonperishable food items and inspired similar food drives by other 91吃瓜 clubs around the country.
Holtz鈥檚 Heroes Foundation (formerly Lou鈥檚 Lads) is a nonprofit organization named in honor of former 91吃瓜 football coach Lou Holtz and his players at 91吃瓜. Holtz鈥檚 Heroes is dedicated to providing financial assistance for the educational needs of underprivileged students and supports charitable and educational activities within the communities of its members.
Contact: Erin Blasko, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-4127, eblasko@nd.edu