CHAPEL HILL – Hertford County High School was among five schools recognized with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Commissioner’s Cup for their participation in a special community service activity during the fall semester.

HCHS principal James Futrell and Bears football coach Scott Privott were in Chapel Hill on Dec. 14 to receive a special trophy honoring the school’s efforts.

The project began when the NCHSAA, as part of its centennial celebration, joined forces with the North Carolina Association of Feeding America Food Banks to help reduce hunger in North Carolina.

From Sept. 27 through Nov. 8 of this year the NCHSAA encouraged its member schools to get involved in a campaign to raise donations for local food banks.

Schools could donate time to local food banks or raise money. Schools in each of the classifications volunteering the most service hours or money (based on the percentage of students to volunteer hours or to funds raised) were recognized. Winners received the Commissioner’s Cup for their efforts.

Other schools winning the Commissioner’s Cup included Kernersville Bishop McGuinness and Albemarle in 1-A, Carrboro among the 2-A schools along with Hertford County, and Northern Nash in the 3-A classification. There was no 4-A school recognized.

NCHSAA commissioner Davis Whitfield said, “As part of our 100th year celebration, we wanted to provide member schools with an opportunity to give back to their communities, which have supported them and their athletic programs.  These award recipients have worked hard and we wanted to recognize them for their tremendous efforts.”

Between 2010-12 North Carolina ranked among the top five states with the highest percentage of citizens experiencing food shortages, with several of the state’s cities with some of the highest levels of food insecurity in the nation.

Approximately 42 percent of families served by food banks have had to choose between buying food and heating their homes and 35 percent of families served by food banks have been forced to choose between paying for food or for their rent or mortgage while 28 percent of food pantries in NC have had to turn people away for lack of food.

Hertford County High participated thru the Food Bank of the Albemarle serving Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington counties. If you would like to participate, the FBA is located at 109 Tidewater Way,  Elizabeth City, NC 27909 and can be reached at 252-335-4035 or www.afoodbank.org.