Defeat Hunger Bowl collections will provide 21,000 meals across the Panhandle

The Bay Area Food Bank received 28,296 pounds of food to help needy people following the Defeat Hunger Bowl, the nonprofit's officials said.

“We couldn’t be happier with the level of participation and generosity folks in the community showed,” said Dave Reaney, the food bank's executive director. “With this food, we’ll be able to provide our Florida service area with 21,766 meals.”

Twenty-one Wal-Mart stores in the Florida Panhandle participated in the month-long food drive.

Other Defeat Hunger Bowl corporate partners  included Kraft, MondelÄ“z, Coca-Cola and CampbellÂ’s.

Bay Area Food Bank services Okaloosa, Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington and Bay counties.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Defeat Hunger Bowl collections will provide 21,000 meals across the Panhandle