EAST LANSING — Michigan State University’s Athletics Department and Division of Residential and Hospitality Services will co-sponsor the fourth-annual “Help Tackle Hunger Food Drive,” scheduled for Monday, Nov. 8 through the MSU-Purdue football game on Saturday, Nov. 20.

MSU is seeking donations of non-perishable food and personal care items for the MSU Student Food Bank and Greater Lansing Food Bank. The greatest need exists for non-perishable goods such as canned beans, canned fish, canned fruits, boxed meals, canned meats, pasta, peanut butter, rice, instant potatoes and canned soup. Donations collected through Nov. 19 will be given to the MSU Student Food Bank. All game-day collections will be provided to the Greater Lansing Food Bank.

Over the last two years, the “Help Tackle Hunger Food Drive” has collected 5,500 pounds in donations. The 2010 goal is to gather 5,000 pounds of non-perishable food and personal care items.

“Over the last three years, the annual food drive has resulted in an outpouring of community support, and we need to continue that momentum this winter,” Becky Dantonio, event chair and wife of MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio, said. “We encourage our fans to come to Spartan Stadium for the home finale against Purdue to cheer on our team as well as join our campus and local communities to ‘Help Tackle Hunger.’”

“Our community needs our support and Spartans will respond,”Assistant Vice President for the Division of Residential and Hospitality Services Vennie Gore said.”Food bank shelves continue to run dangerously low on supplies, so donations are greatly appreciated.”

Donations will be accepted through Saturday, Nov. 20 at the MSU Union, Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, Spartan Village Community Center, University Village Community Center and in all residence hall service centers. On Saturday, Nov. 20, contributions may be brought to marked collection points near Spartan Stadium and in popular tailgating lot 89 and Munn Field. Monetary donations also will be accepted at all Sparty’s coffeehouses, Union Central Store, Spartan Spirit Shop in the MSU Union and the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center Gift Shop during the collection period and in Spartan Stadium on game day.

For additional information and a list of suggested donation items, please visit www.fooddrive.msu.edu.

Tickets available for banquet

The Spartan Football Awards Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 18 at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in East Lansing.

A reception begins at 1 p.m. with the dinner, player introductions and awards program to follow at 2 p.m. Tickets for the Spartan Football Awards Banquet are priced at $45 each, with tables of eight available for $360.

Reservations can be made by sending a check, payable to Michigan State University, to: Spartan Football Awards Banquet, Duffy Daugherty Football Building/Skandalaris Center, East Lansing, MI 48824. For additional information, regarding the awards banquet, contact the MSU Football Office at (517) 355-1647.