Asheville beer scene joins fight against hunger

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Buy a beer, help feed a family. That's the slogan for second annual Hops for Hunger drive to help MANNA FoodBank.

Some 29 local breweries are taking part, up from 12 last year. The breweries are donating to MANNA in a variety of ways -- from a percentage of sales to a certain amount per pint.

"The brewery community has been very supportive of our neighbors in need by donating and by giving of their time through volunteering," Mary Nesbitt, chief development officer for MANNA FoodBank, said in a news release. "This year, these breweries upped their collective efforts to really make an impact, right when families in our area need it most."

Child hunger increases during the summer, when students who receive free and reduced lunch aren't receiving these weekday meals, and families face increased pressure to bridge the grocery gap in their budgets. In WNC, one in six people and one in four children is affected by food insecurity, the news release said.

Hops for Hunger events run through July.

Click here for a list of participating breweries.

"WNC breweries have had a real impact with this campaign," MANNA CEO Hannah Randall said in the news release. "When you consider that with every dollar raised, MANNA can provide enough food for 3.5 meals to families struggling to make ends meet, you can imagine the impact that buying just a few beers can really have. It's a great connection between what makes the Asheville area so fun, and the good that someone can do by simply drinking a great local beer."