Hunger Loses To Jacksonville Jaguars and OBI

Florida -- A. Philip Randolph Park is not far from the Jaguars' football stadium in east Jacksonville. However, it's safe to say not many of the fans and their children living in the park's surrounding low income neighborhood have ever attended a game. On November 26th, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Publix Supermarket and Operation Blessing brought a little of the game to them.

Fifteen hundred adults and 700 children poured into A. Philip Randolph Park on the Tuesday afternoon before Thanksgiving. Even though it was sunny and in the 80's, they weren't headed for the playground equipment. Parents were there for the free groceries. The elderly wanted to take advantage of the free glaucoma screenings and blood pressure checks. Little boys and girls wanted a picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus while fans of all ages wanted to meet a few of their favorite Jaguars players.

Earlier, over 73,000 pounds of food had been unloaded from a OBI Hunger Strike Force tractor truck and Publix Supermarket trailer. Over 200 volunteers from Wachovia bank, the U.S. Navy and Publix then put together enough grocery bags for each adult guest to take two home. Contents included soup, canned vegetables, onions, potatoes and bagged salad.

To the delight of many, Jaguars players Fernando Bryant, James Boyd, Eric Westmoreland, Marlon McCree, Wali Rainer, Micah Ross, Drew Inzer, Dan Alexander and Ainsley Battles came out and spent some time with some dedicated fans. They signed autographs, handed grocery bags to guests and smiled for some pictures. Children didn't leave the event empty handed either! Gift bags filled with chocolates, markers, books and Jaguar mementos were passed out to each small fan.

The amount of community support was encouraging! One volunteer's 94-year-old mother had planned on coming to volunteer until having to take an unexpected trip to the hospital. She sent 500 hand-made woolen children's caps with her daughter to pass out. She had lovingly taken about three hours to make each one. Local firefighters, the Vision Is Priceless Council, Florida-Georgia Blood Alliance, The National Kidney Foundation and Bethel Baptist Institutional Church were all on hand, providing free services and information to the guests. In addition, 6,000 pounds of undistributed food was given to the local food bank after the event.

This was just one of three food distributions that OBI has co-sponsored in the last two weeks! Working with New York Jets wide receiver Santana Moss and an agency called Alianza Domenicana, the Hunger Strike Force (HSF) helped 300 Harlem families receive a bag of groceries. A donor provided a whole chicken into each bag! Last Saturday, December 7th, we partnered with the Baltimore Ravens' Benny Anderson, the Baltimore Ravens and the Ravens' staff. Volunteers from UPS handed the grocery sacks to over 2,500 hungry guests. Heaven 600 Radio and Harbor Hospital also added to this event's success.

Thousands of individuals living in poverty along the east coast have received groceries during HSF's four food distribution events this fall. OBI's director of procurement, Pam Erickson, looks forward to continuing this successful partnership between HSF and numerous professional athletic associations next year. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of our product donors for their generosity in supporting our Hunger Strike Force program," she commented. "Many times people think that it is only the chronically poor who suffer with issues related to hunger and need. However, there are thousands of families who experience hard times through job lay-offs, financial difficulties, single parenting and sudden family catastrophes. It is because of the continual support of our donors that we can respond to these urgent needs by providing food and supplies as a tangible way of saying that we value their lives and care about their struggles."

Thank you for helping us beat hunger this season! Remember, Operation Blessing feeds men, women and children around the world all year long.