CHARLOTTE — Charlotte-area students from 15 high schools kicked off the Fifth Annual Carolinas Student Hunger Drive, a six-week food drive competition sponsored by Food Lion, Monday at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina at 500-B Spratt St.

This year’s event is sponsored by Food Lion’s community relations platform, Food Lion Feeds. Through Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion is working to create a better tomorrow by uniting with customers and partners to eliminate the choices families are forced to make when they are hungry. By the end of 2020, the company has pledged to provide 500 million meals to families in need in its local communities.

Local teens competed in talent competitions and other food collection activities during Monday’s kick-off event. Schools will compete until Nov. 17 to find out which high school collects the most food during the six week time period.

“Last year, local high school students collected more than 71 tons of food to support food banks in their communities,” said Mona Lita Carr, executive director of Carolinas Student Hunger Drive. “This year we are excited to be working with 15 participating high schools from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Cabarrus County Schools and Fort-Mill Schools in our commitment to feed the hungry and inspire community service”. Schools will compete for more than $8,000 in awards.

In addition to serving as the presenting sponsor, Food Lion will support the “The Food Lion MVP Award,” to be given to the student who exemplifies extraordinary leadership during the Carolinas Student Hunger Drive campaign. This student is someone who went above and beyond in planning, executing and promoting the mission of the Carolinas Student Hunger Drive to their campus and surrounding community. The student will receive a $500 scholarship.