This year’s goal is at least 800 pounds of food . . .
Blue Horseshoe, one of the nation’s leading software and supply chain solutions companies, turns its attention to the needy this evening when the Carmel-based firm hosts its second annual “Nerd Night for the Needy” at its international corporate headquarters along the Meridian Corporate Corridor in Carmel.
Last year’s inaugural effort raised 736 pounds of food for Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank, an amount the event organizers hope to top in 2019. The goal is at least 800 pounds or more.
The self-professed “nerds” of Blue Horseshoe plan to gather Friday for an all-nighter of computer games, video games, PC games – even some conventional board and card games – in a truly “nerdy” event that costs each participant at least five items of non-perishable food as an entry fee.
Last year, Nerd Night for the Needy attendees brought in nearly 800 pounds of food to donate to the Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank. (Photo provided)
The action begins at 7 p.m. and will last until the last person standing is no longer standing, which is usually sometime the following morning. In addition, the rest of Blue Horseshoe’s employees are also encouraged to bring in food items, even if they’re not “nerdy enough” or have the energy to attend the all-night event.
“This food drive is truly focused on providing food for kids who rely on school lunches as their one solid meal of the day,” said Blue Horseshoe President and CEO Chris Cason. “We feel it is important to be part of the solution to hunger within our community among those who are less fortunate, and we encourage all of our employees and our corporate partners to join us in this effort.”
Hosting a food drive is one of the most helpful ways to help the Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank, which handed out more than 3,600 jars of peanut butter last year as part of its efforts to keep local food pantries stocked. Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank was established in 2009 when several of the food pantries in the county joined together and set up a new non-profit entity to assist all Hamilton County pantries with their food inventory needs. Since its inception, HCH Food Bank has collected and distributed more than 275,000 pounds of food for local pantries.
“We are very excited about this event and we thank Blue Horseshoe for their participation,” said Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank Executive Director Anita Hagen. “We rely on Hamilton County’s LOCAL businesses and organizations to help fill the needs of the over 40 food pantries, Meals for Kids programs and community meals we assist, all in Hamilton County. Approximately 1 in 10 residents of our county are food insecure. All donated food will be sorted and distributed to the food support network of Hamilton County at no cost to them. Please visit HCHFoodBank.org for more information or visit our Facebook page.”