LOUDON, N.H. (Dec.15, 2011) -New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s Gift of Lights event joined in the effort to end hunger this holiday season, by donating more than 11,000 pounds of food to the Loudon, N.H. Food Pantry this week. That’s equal to the weight of three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars racing around the 1.058-mile oval.
Thanks to the 8,000 cars that have driven through the electric wonderland of light displays and brought food, “The Magic Mile” is bringing Christmas cheer to those who need it most.
“We know that there are many people who are less fortunate throughout the great state of New Hampshire,” said Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of the speedway. “Thank you to all of our wonderful fans who have visited the Gift of Lights and contributed. It is because of you, families in the community will have a brighter holiday this year.”
All of the food that is collected throughout the light show will service residents in Belmont, Canterbury, Chichester, Epsom and Loudon.
“It really is terrific to get so many donations during the holiday season,” said Sue Houck of the Loudon Food Pantry. “We feed about 100 households a week, but what many people don’t know is that the donations we receive now will carry us throughout the entire year.”
Open nightly, the hours of operation for the Gift of Lights show will be Sunday through Thursday, 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, from 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. until Jan. 1, 2012. The cost is $15 per vehicle or $13 for those who donate three non-perishable food items.