As part of a company commitment to hunger relief, Perdue Farms teamed with the Delmarva Shorebirds — the Class A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles — and three Delmarva food banks for the annual season-long 2018 Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge on Delmarva to deliver more than 160,000 meals across Delmarva communities.
“We’re thrilled that once again the Delmarva food banks, the Shorebirds and theirs fans, and the community at-large stepped up to the plate to fight hunger in our Delmarva neighborhoods,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation. “The way in which everyone responded to the Strike Out Hunger Challenge again this year reflects the passion and commitment our communities have for helping those in need.”
The 2018 Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge on Delmarva provided the forum to continue the awareness and community engagement that began with Perdue’s sponsorship of the 2011 South Atlantic League “Perdue Strike Out Hunger All-Star Game” promotions. Since then, the Shorebirds and food banks have embraced the Strike Out Hunger Challenge to generate more than 960,000 million meal equivalents for those in need on Delmarva.
“The Shorebirds are proud to partner with Perdue to host such an impactful campaign, such as Strike Out Hunger for the Delmarva Community,” said Jimmy Sweet, assistant general manager of the Delmarva Shorebirds. “On behalf of Perdue and the Shorebirds, please let me say thank you to all of the Shorebirds fans and neighbors for stepping up to the plate and helping those within our community.
To drive this year’s Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge on Delmarva, Perdue Farms issued a $15,000 challenge grant funded by the Perdue Foundation — the charitable giving arm of the company — to benefit the Eastern Shore Branch of the Maryland Food Bank, the Food Bank of Delaware and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.
Each of the food banks were required to engage the Delmarva community to raise the equivalent of 10,000 meals in order to claim their equal share of the first $10,000 of the Foundation challenge grant. This included any combination of pounds of food collected, funds collected and donated, or volunteer hours throughout the duration of the Shorebirds’ season.
Additionally, Perdue also donated $10 for each time the Shorebirds’ pitchers struck out an opposing batter up to $5,000.
“Eastern Shore residents challenged by hunger, will once again find support as a result of growing community partnerships committed to donating food, funds and their time through volunteerism in support of the 2018 Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge,” said Jennifer Small, managing director of the Eastern Shore branch of the Maryland Food Bank. “This annual campaign remains a pivotal part of the Maryland Food Bank’s ability to meet the needs of those who struggle to feed their families. Through collaborative efforts with both Perdue Farms and the Delmarva Shorebirds, we can continue in our fight to strike out hunger here on Delmarva.”
As Chad Robinson, community relations manager for the Food Bank of Delaware in Milford, explains, “Strike Out Hunger is an exciting way to showcase our summer food needs. While hunger doesn’t go on vacation in the summer, many families have a need that needs to be met in the hot summer months. The partnership between the Delmarva area food banks, Perdue and the Delmarva Shorebirds is great. It is so exciting for us that America’s favorite pastime can be so supportive of our important work. Thank you to Perdue and the Delmarva Shorebirds!”
Charmin Horton, branch manager of the Foodbank of the Eastern Shore in Tasley, Va., said the partnership helps provide much-needed service to more than 12,000 people.
“We were excited to be able to partner once again with Perdue and the Shorebirds, for this year’s Strike Out Hunger campaign,” said Horton. “These partnerships mean that we are able to continue to maintain our community programs, provide volunteer opportunities to our local youth during the summer hours, all while continuing our mission of eliminating hunger in our community. For this we truly thank you.”
