The Santa Cruz Warriors helped Grind Out Hunger kickoff this year's food drive campaign with assemblies at both New Brighton Middle School and Aptos Junior High Tuesday.
Both schools donated the most meals per capita with New Brighton providing 9,000 meals while Aptos Junior High donated 19,000 meals last year and were awarded a visit from the local NBA D-League team.
Kiwi Gardner, John Allen and Kevin Kotzur of the Warriors along with the team's mascot Mav'Riks joined Grind Out Hunger founder Danny Keith onstage to promote a message of hunger awareness and to help out those who may not get the meals they need on a daily basis.
"It never surprises me what the kids can do," said Danny Keith. "We couldn't have a better partner (the Warriors)."
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The non-profit organization has collected over 2 million meals for children in need since its inception in 2003.
"Over 200,000 kids in 10 years have helped contribute to that mark," said Grind Out Hunger's Director of Public Relations Joanna Doubleday. "It makes you very proud that kids feel so strong about supporting their community."
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The Warriors players were excited to help be a part of Grind Out Hunger's message and helped bring a student body to its feet at New Brighton when they handed out rally towels as a thank you for the school's participation in last year's drive.
"I feel like it's always exciting to give back," said Warriors guard John Allen. "Anytime you can make awareness about giving back whether it be food or a food drive is definitely a good thing to do."
Warriors forward Kevin Kotzur, who towered over the middle school students standing at 6 feet 9 inches believe it's important to spread the message of hunger throughout the community.
"It's a big part of what I feel I should accomplish as a human being," said Kotzur. "If one person helps another it spreads that word."
The Santa Cruz Warriors helped to raise $24,000 for Grind Out Hunger last year and they want to surpass that total this season.
Keith is excited at the prospect of increasing their donations from last year noting the increase each year from New Brighton Middle School.
"Their very first year New Brighton had only done 200 meals, the next year was 2,000 meals," said Keith. "We just try to use that excitement to get them aware of what's going on and (the kids) stay focused on it."
For more information on how you can donate, visit the non-profit's website at http://grindouthunger.org/.
