Bay Area Food Bank, Wal-Mart battling hunger through Feb. 2

CRESTVIEW — Bay Area Food Bank and Wal-Mart are raising the Panhandle's awareness for year-round hunger.

The Crestview Wal-Mart, among 21 Florida Panhandle stores, will hold a food drive through Feb. 2. All donations for the first Defeat Hunger Bowl will benefit Bay Area Food Bank and the pantries and soup kitchens it supports.

See a complete list of all stores participating in the first Defeat Hunger Bowl>>

"Currently, approximately one in six adults and one in four children are food insecure in our area … January is a tough time because people tend to focus on the issue more around the holidays, but hunger is a year-round problem," Dave Reaney, Bay Area Food Bank executive director, said.

Donors can purchase individual non-perishable food items or a $5 package of items available at participating stores.  

Kraft, Mondelēz, Coca-Cola and Campbell’s are other corporate partners for the effort.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bay Area Food Bank, Wal-Mart battling hunger through Feb. 2