TORONTO -- Charlie and Samantha Montoyo know what it’s like to need some help.
The Blue Jays manager and his wife have two sons, 16-year-old Tyson and 11-year-old Alex. When their youngest was born with a congenital heart defect known as Ebstein’s anomaly, their lives began to include more hospital visits than they ever thought they’d need, and more assistance than they ever hoped to require.
Because of their experiences, they have become increasingly aware of just how important it is to give back when they are able to do so. Earlier this season, Charlie joined the team on a visit to Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in the hopes of offering the same kind of joy his son felt when special guests visited him during hospital stays.
This weekend, Samantha will help to lead the charge for the 35th annual Lady Jays Food Drive at Rogers Centre, in support of Food Banks Canada.
“It’s very important to give back to the community here,” Samantha said. “It’s also very important that we teach our children to give back. “For us, having a younger child who spent so much time in hospitals and had so many needs, to be in a situation now where we can give back to other people who might be in those situations, it’s just so important. We’re very grateful for the opportunity to be able to do that.”
In the short time they’ve been in Toronto, the Montoyos have grown to love their adopted community and relish the opportunity to be able to give back.
“Ultimately, we’ve been exploring the city and meeting people, and everyone’s just been so kind and so welcoming,” Samantha said. “We’ve been very lucky that everyone here has been so wonderful and embracing us, embracing both my kids.
On Friday and Saturday, several wives, girlfriends and family members of the Blue Jays’ players and coaching staff will take part in the annual food drive. Fans attending the games against the Orioles can donate non-perishable food items, make a monetary donation or purchase a mystery bag at select locations in and around the stadium.
“Jays Care is able to reach so many more people throughout Canada, so it’s extra special because you know more people are going to get the help they need, whether it’s supporting a small Little League team or through a full food drive like they’re doing now,” Samantha said.
In addition to the contributions of fans throughout the weekend drive, The Sprott Foundation has agreed to match all monetary donations collected -- up to $50,000 -- building on the longstanding partnership between TSF and the Jays Care Foundation.
The food collected will support local food bank affiliates in Toronto, while cash donations will benefit Food Banks Canada to support national programs. In 2018, the Lady Jays Food Drive collected 3,356 pounds of food and raised almost $100,000 through fan donations and a matching contribution from TSF.
All food and funds collected will go toward supporting monthly food bank users nationally, of which 35 percent are children. Blue Jays fans across the country can support the Lady Jays Food Drive online at foodbankscanada.ca or by donating food, funds or time to their local food bank.
The Lady Jays Food Drive is the longest-running community initiative in club history.