NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Rutgers Against Hunger (RAH), Rutgers University’s effort to address hunger in New Jersey, will team up with four minor-league baseball teams to collect food for hunger-fighting agencies in their communities.
The teams are the Lakewood BlueClaws, the Somerset Patriots, the New Jersey Jackals and the Camden Riversharks. Each team will promote the cause and ask fans to bring non-perishable food items to a particular game.
“Spring is here, the baseball season is starting and the ballparks will be filling up,” said Kathleen Decker, program coordinator for Rutgers Against Hunger. “If every fan going to a minor-league game – say, 3,000 people – were to bring one can of food, that would go a long way toward relieving pressure on local food banks and food pantries, all of which have had trouble keeping up with demand in recent years.”
The BlueClaws are first, asking fans to bring food to their April 25 South Atlantic League gam
The Somerset Patriots, who play in the Atlantic League, will accept food donations from fans at their May 25 game against the Camden Riversharks. All the food collected will go to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County, and the Patriots will provide a ticket voucher for a future game to anyone who brings a food donation that night.
For their May 31 game against the Rockland Boulders, the New Jersey Jackals will take a dollar off the ticket price for every item a fan brings to the ballpark. The Jackals, who play in the Can-Am League, play at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, and their tickets cost $9 or $11, so a fan could bring 11 items of food and be admitted to the game for free.
The Camden Riversharks, who, like the Patriots, play in the Atlantic League, will set a date for their promotion soon.
Media Contact: Ken Branson
732-932-7084, ext. 633
E-mail: kbranson@ur.rutgers.edu