![\"foodtower\"](\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2017\/04\/foodtower.png\")
<\/p>\nAccording to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, one in five Cleveland kids goes hungry on a regular basis.<\/p>\n
Yardi\u2019s Cleveland office recently teamed up in a friendly competition to do something to help.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince 2013, we have held a non-perishable food drive and competition each year to contribute to the Food Bank\u2019s Harvest for Hunger campaign,\u201d said Karen Parker, a technical account manager on the Cleveland CSD team.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach year we have topped our previous effort and raised more than the previous. We started in 2013 with 48 employees and collected 375 pounds of donations. This year we have 70 employees and managed to collect 1,735 pounds.\u201d<\/p>\n
The theme of the effort is the \u201cFight Hunger Games,\u201d a concept Parker came up with when the popular book trilogy Hunger Games, now also two films, was wildly popular a few years back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe office is divided into Districts.\u00a0 Each District is represented by a Tribute. \u00a0\u00a0And the Fight Hunger Games begin,\u201d Parker explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach District brings in supplies and food donations.\u00a0 These are counted and become part of the final score. The Tributes participate in a round of games.\u00a0 The scores are totaled and winners announced.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a fun and friendly competition but can get competitive, said Parker, leading to some spirited games of \u201cRock, Paper, Scissors.\u201d Other games included Guess Who and Corn Hole.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a potluck food component that everyone in the office can enjoy.<\/p>\n
\u201cA soup kitchen is created with staff members bringing in various types of soups, dips, salads and desserts.\u00a0 A donation of two cans of food will get you all the soup you can eat.\u00a0 And believe me, it was really yummy,\u201d Parker said.<\/p>\n
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank explains that the donations are badly needed, especially at a time of year when the need for food bank support might not be on everyone\u2019s minds.<\/p>\n
According to the Food Bank, \u201cHarvest for Hunger\u00a0\u2013 one of the largest annual, community-wide food and funds drives in the nation \u2013 provides critical resources to local hunger relief organizations in 21 counties in Northeast and North Central Ohio.\u201d<\/p>\n