Extreme Food Drive at ODU to Help Needy Families
The television crews and on-air talent Xzibit from ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will be on site Wednesday, February 2 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center when the Old Dominion University Monarchs take on Delaware at 7 p.m.
Old Dominion University is participating in this week's Extreme Food Drive, as part of ABC's television show, which is in Virginia Beach this week constructing a home for the family of Beverly Hill, her husband Fred Burdette and their six adopted children, all of whom came to them through the foster system. Beverly Hill runs a small operation to feed the homeless from her home near Lynnhaven Mall.
Fans are asked to bring at least one non-perishable food item to the game Wednesday in a community wide effort to collect a record-breaking number of food items for the Foodbanks of Southeastern Virginia, the Peninsula and the Albemarle in Northeastern North Carolina.
At halftime of the contest, show designer and rapper Xzibit will tape a segment to be included during the show's one-hour broadcast later this year, indicating Hampton Roads support of the family and the Foodbanks. The ODU sailing team has been collecting a "boat-load of food" for the past few weeks and will roll a sailboat onto the floor as part of the halftime festivities. Old Dominion is asking fans to remain seated at halftime to participate in the taping and to bring their loudest cheering voices.
"It's a honor to participate in this great cause, which benefits our local Foodbanks and supports the very deserving family that has been selected to receive a new home," says athletic director Dr. Wood Selig. "All of Hampton Roads has been buzzing about the show coming to our area, and ODU is proud to be playing a significant part on this national television broadcast."
Food bins will be placed at every entrance to the arena, with gates opening at 6 p.m. for the general public. Big Blue Club members are invited to come to the Big Blue room at 5 p.m. on Wednesday for the announcement of the 2011 ODU football signee class. Game tickets are still available and can be purchased at 1-888-3COXTIX or online at www.coxtix.com.
Additionally, ODU is hosting a food drive on campus. Items can be donated at various locations in Webb Center, at the Barry M. Kornblau Alumni Center, and at the Virginia Beach and Peninsula higher education centers from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, Feb. 4. Individuals who make donations will be entered in a drawing to win tickets to the Elton John concert at the Ted Constant Center on March 18.
Those who donate will also be entered in a drawing to win tickets to the 2011 ODU Homecoming football game. One pair of tickets will be awarded to a student and another pair will go to the winner of a drawing among faculty, staff and alumni donors. Winners to all drawings will be notified Feb. 4.