Reds join local partners for 19th annual Strike Out Hunger food drive
As part of Reds Country Cares for the month of July, the Reds teamed up with St. Vincent De Paul, Chick-fil-A, Kroger, WLWT-TV and 700 WLW for the 19th annual Strike Out Hunger food drive on July 10-11.
With a focused initiative on poverty and hunger this month, the Reds Country Cares team gathered collections before and during the Reds vs. Cubs series at Great American Ball Park. A highly anticipated event each year, all fans who donated at least three non-perishable food items received a ticket voucher for one of three future Reds games, along with a coupon for a free Chick-fil-A sandwich. This year, the partnership collected 3,961 pounds of food, equivalent to roughly 3,300 meals for those facing food insecurity.
With Strike Out Hunger celebrating its 19th year, SVDP Chief Philanthropy Partnership and Marketing Officer Kaytlynd Lainhart reflected on the significance of the organization’s continued partnership with the Reds.
“Our roots run deep together, and I think that the beauty of this partnership is that together, we are serving this community and making this a vibrant place to live, no matter what your income is,” Lainhart said.
Based out of Cincinnati, SVDP has more than 50 volunteer-led conferences throughout Hamilton County, many of which are organized by local parishes. These groups work year-round to meet the needs of the local community as they carry out SVDP’s mission of being a neighbor to help a neighbor.
Longtime volunteer Tom Roberts, who has worked every Strike Out Hunger event for more than a decade, has seen that impact grow firsthand.
“It feels like over the course of this decade, the Reds have put increasing amounts of energy and resources into trying to promote this event, and that obviously has increased the harvest,” Roberts said. “The number of neighbors we have been able to assist with food has grown, so that has been a huge asset for us.”
Strike Out Hunger comes at the most critical time of the year for organizations like SVDP: summer. With kids on summer break, it becomes much harder for many families to provide sufficient meals without the added support from the school cafeteria. Because of this increase in demand, it becomes more important for community members to lend a hand to ensure that every family has enough to eat throughout the summer months.
When asked about memorable examples of Reds fans going above and beyond to accomplish this objective, Lainhart recalled one dedicated individual who brought an entire shopping cart of items across the Purple People Bridge to donate to the drive.
Although pushing shopping carts across bridges may not be feasible for most fans, even the smallest donations can have a huge impact. On average, each dollar that is donated to SVDP provides approximately $5.88 worth of groceries. Events like Strike Out Hunger truly make a difference in the Cincinnati community by providing individuals an opportunity to give back any way they can.
“[This food drive] adds variety. It adds dignity and a little bit of joy for the kids and families who shop in our pantry at no cost to make them feel like they’re at home,” Lainhart shared.
What many may not realize is that every donation gathered by SVDP goes directly to helping those specifically in the Cincinnati community.
WLWT’s Pete Salkowski and the WLWT team have covered Strike Out Hunger every year since it initially began in 2007 as a canned food drive. Since then, it has expanded to include all non-perishable items, allowing it to better meet the needs of local families.
“We’re committed to serving the community that we’ve been a part of for so long, and we know this is something that directly helps the people here,” Salkowski said.
For those who missed this year’s event at Great American Ball Park, there are still several opportunities to give back to SVDP. On July 18-19, Kroger will host an East side vs. West side food drive competition at its Anderson and Dent locations between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Fans who donate non-perishable food items will once again receive vouchers for both Reds tickets and Chick-fil-A. Additionally, for those looking to give back financially, Kroger has committed to matching all monetary donations made to SVDP.
Those interested in giving back beyond donations can also volunteer within the organization. Opportunities range from sorting food pantry and thrift store donations to answering calls in the call center, making it easy for fans with different interests and schedules to get involved.
“It’s a great place to meet our neighbors, talk to them and just make a difference,” said Anne Jones, SVDP director of marketing and communications. “The food is important, incredibly important, but so is that personal relationship and just knowing someone cares about you.”
Nearly two decades in, Strike Out Hunger continues to show what’s truly possible when Reds Country steps up to the plate to help end food insecurity across the Greater Cincinnati area. And while the initiative’s 20th anniversary is still a year away, one thing is already clear: that with so many Reds fans dedicated to supporting their community season after season, it is sure to be a grand slam.