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Hunger Strike force
Three NFL Teams and The Hunger Strike Force Win Game Against Hunger
In the beginning of what promises to be a busy holiday season, more than 600 volunteers and NFL players representing three teams took a few hours to share joy with those who needed it. See how...
Guests began forming a line outside of Candlestick Park on a bleak November Saturday morning. They weren't there to see their beloved San Francisco 49ers play, but hungry for the free groceries a flyer had advertised. In anticipation of OBI's Hunger Strike Force (HSF) and San Francisco 49ers afternoon food distribution, over 200 volunteers from True Hope of God In Christ were hard at work filling approximately 4,000 bags with items including soup, salad, onions, potatoes, canned peaches, cereal, yogurt. The Home Depot provided these wonderful volunteers with a catered lunch.
Each adult guest received two bags of free groceries and children took a package of treats home. Players Jose' Cortez and Jesse Sapolu as well as former 49er teammate Eric Wright lent a hand in passing out the food as well as signing autographs and smiling for pictures. Captain PJ Jackson of the San Francisco police department was pleasantly surprised, "It was a well run, high energy, and well organized event. I'm looking forward to next year!"
Obie the Bear, the official mascot of OBI, brought additional happiness to young guests. As winner of this falls HSF's Name The Bear Contest, Bernie Combs, of Virginia Beach, won 2 round trip tickets to California, accommodations, and took a hold of the opportunity to be Obie at Saturday's distribution. One small girl latched onto Obie with her mother in tow! "My wife and I had a wonderful time," expressed Combs.
Thousands of additional hungry adults and children in sunny Jacksonville, Florida and Columbia, South Carolina participated in a fun afternoon the Tuesday before Thanksgiving...
Carolina Panthers players Hannibal Navies and Jim Turner came alongside numerous volunteers from the United Way, Boys & Girls Clubs as well as students from two Columbia colleges to help unload one Hunger Strike Force truck filled with items including canned vegetables, sweet potatoes, packaged salads, cereal, pasta and drinks. Panther sponsors Campbell's Soup and Hormel Ham supplied additional food added to the 3,500 grocery bags given to those in need at the Martin Luther King Community Center. Approximately 700 children received special gift bags. "It was a very successful event," commented OBI's Rebecca Cross. "It gave the Panthers an opportunity to reach out to their supporters in South Carolina."
Traveling further south, more than 3,000 guests from Jacksonville, Florida's east side had made a line approximately six blocks long by noon in anticipation of the promised free groceries. Michael, age 38, was the first person in line, waiting for more than four hours. "Times are harder this year. I have been working out of a labor pool - but jobs have been scarce lately," said this father of three young children. "Right now I don't have enough to feed my family."
More than 200 volunteers from First Union Bank/Wachovia filled the bags. Each guest received three plastic sacks containing items that included canned yams and green beans, Campbell's Chunky Soup, pasta, potatoes, salad, yogurt, and Hamburger Helper. HSF and Publix Super Markets contributed a truck load of food each.
In addition to the free food distribution, children had their picture taken with Santa Claus and guests could get autographs from 12 Jaguar players. Free glaucoma and blood pressure screenings were also available. At the completion of the event, leftover bags were given to Lutheran Social Services Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Florida for distribution to various agencies.
As we close the 2001 relationship with the NFL and MLB (Major League Baseball), HSF will partner with the Baltimore Ravens in tackling hunger this coming Saturday!
Help us continue to deliver food that feeds hungry American families by giving your generous gift today...
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