Food Bank gets $75K from Citizens

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Community Food Bank has received $75,000 from the Citizens Bank Foundation, the Pawtucket Red Sox and Cox Communications through an annual campaign called Striking Out Hunger.
Since opening day this season, every PawSox strike-out resulted in $75 put toward food for hungry families, up to a total contribution of $75,000. By Aug. 25, the PawSox pitchers had met that match. Now in its eighth season, the campaign has raised a total of $575,000 for the food bank over the years.
Andrew Schiff, the food bank’s CEO expressed gratitude for the assistance.
“This partnership is a perfect example of how organizations can work together for the common good,” he said. “The Citizens Bank Foundation provides the donations, Cox Communications provides the public service campaign, and the PawSox provide great baseball. Together, we make a real difference in the lives of kids and families who rely on the food bank for help.”
Striking Out Hunger was started in response to an uptick in need for food assistance during the summer. About 50,000 Rhode Island children receive free or reduced-priced lunch during the school year, but some families struggle to provide for their children between academic years.
“During the summer months, children who typically participate in free or subsidized school breakfast and lunch programs no longer have this nutritional safety net to rely upon,” said Barbara Cottam, a Rhode Island market executive with Citizens Bank. “Through the bank’s ‘Striking Out Hunger’ partnership, … We are able to raise awareness and provide critical funding during the summer.”
The food bank’s statewide network of food pantries serves more than 63,000 Rhode Islanders every month, including children under age 18 and senior citizens on fixed incomes.
“We are proud of our talented pitchers,” said Lou Schwechheimer, vice president and general manager of the Pawtucket Red Sox. “They don’t just help us win ballgames – they also help so many of our neighbors in need.”
John Wolfe, senior vice president and general manager, Cox Communications expressed pride in the initiative, which he said helps raise awareness as well as curb hunger.
Last year, the Food Bank distributed 9.9 million pounds of food to 169 member agencies, including food pantries, community meal sites, after-school recreation centers and programs for senior citizens.

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