It’s that time of year again. It’s time for Auburn to regain its title as the winner of the 17th annual “Beat Bama Food Drive,” taking place now through Nov. 22.

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Each year, Auburn’s Student Government Association rallies Auburn to donate food for the East Alabama Food Bank. The food drive is a friendly competition that began in 1994 between Auburn University and the University of Alabama. The two schools compete to gather more food than the other rival.

Auburn has won nine of the previous 16 competitions, but Alabama has won the past three years. This year, Auburn hopes to regain its place as champion.

The competition has grown from collecting merely 4,000 pounds in 1994 to almost 500,000 pounds in 2008. Because of the economy, the collection saw a drop in numbers last year, with 339,687 pounds donated. This year, Auburn’s goal is to raise more than 200,000 pounds of food.

“All of the donated food goes directly back to the local community,” said Joseph Cortopassi, assistant director of the food drive. “This year we’re trying new things to bump up donations, because it’s so important to give back to the Auburn community.”

The competition now offers a way to text a donation. Students can simply text “beatbama” to 20222 and then reply back “yes.” $10 will be donated to the food drive. In addition, there will be a silent auction held at the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center on Nov. 12 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The auction is open to students, alumni and residents of the local community. There are also collection bins located on campus, in local grocery stores and in local dining areas.

“We would really like to unite the Auburn family to help us reach our goal, and bring the title back to the Plains,” said Melanie Smith, director of the food drive.

This food drive is more than just a competition between rival schools. One in five food pantries in America have to turn the hungry away because of a lack of supplies. Demand for food is up 27 percent and donations are down 50 percent.

“It is the food drive that makes the difference of whether or not many families have a Thanksgiving dinner,” said Martha Henk, director of the East Alabama Food Bank.

The food drive’s website, www.beatbamafooddrive.com, provides more information about the drive and lists all of the ways to donate food.