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Matador Athletics Announces Fall Food Drive to Benefit Children’s Hunger Fund

Cal State Northridge’s Athletics Department, in association with Children’s Hunger Fund, is hosting a “Fall Canned Food Drive” over the course of six days at the end of October and the beginning of November.

Fans who bring a donation of non-perishable food items to a game will receive free admission to Matador athletics events taking place on the campus.

The food drive kicks off on Friday, Oct. 30, when the Northridge women’s volleyball team hosts Cal State Bakersfield in the Matadome at 7 p.m. On Halloween, Oct. 31, patrons can bring items to the men’s soccer match against UC Riverside at 3 p.m. at Matador Soccer Field.

Non-perishable food items will be accepted on Sunday, Nov. 1, also “senior day,” when the Matador women’s soccer team faces Long Beach State at the Matador Soccer Field at 1 p.m.

The food drive extends to the beginning of the 2009-10 Matador basketball season.

On Monday, Nov. 2, the Northridge women’s basketball team participates in its first exhibition contest of the season at 7 p.m. in a game against Cal Lutheran in the Matadome. Two days later, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, the defending Big West Conference champion men’s basketball team begins its 2009-10 season with an exhibition game against Cal Lutheran, also at 7 p.m. in the Matadome. Non-perishable food items will be accepted at both games.

The suggested donation for admittance to the different events is three non-perishable food items per person. However, all donations will be welcomed and accepted for free admittance to the games.

“The Matadors are proud to partner with the Children’s Hunger Fund and hope the drive helps our community during the holiday season,” CSUN Athletics Director Rick Mazzuto said. “We are dealing with unique economic times and this type of event allows us to affect a great number of people throughout the San Fernando Valley.”

Children’s Hunger Fund (CHF), a 501(c)3 organization, was founded in 1992 and seeks to alleviate the suffering of needy children across America and around the world. Along with Mercy Networks in Los Angeles, Chicago and San Antonio and in developing countries around the world, CHF provides training and resources to local churches to help them meet the needs in their communities.

“Children’s Hunger Fund was founded in the San Fernando Valley with the express purpose to help its needy families. Therefore, it seems like a natural fit to join
with CSUN and affect change together,” CHF Founder and President Dave Phillips said. “We are proud to have the Matadors as our allies in the fight against hunger.”

This is the second time this year that the Matadors have partnered with Children’s Hunger Fund. In the spring, the CSUN baseball and softball programs teamed up to hold a canned food drive in April and collected more than 350 pounds of food.

The Northridge Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has also teamed with CHF in the past, holding food drives, coin drives and collecting donations as part of the CHF’s ‘Adopt a Family’ program.

“For the past several years, we have made giving back to our community an integral part of our program. This event affords us the change to give back to those who live in our surrounding area,” Northridge women’s basketball head coach Staci Schulz said. “I think this is a wonderful opportunity for our team to help our community and to bond in an event that doesn’t relate to basketball or academics.”