In an effort to fight hunger in our community, the Wichita Falls Wildcats are pleased to partner with the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank for the first annual Hockey Heals Hunger campaign, it was announced Tuesday.
With the support of the WFAFB, the Wildcats will be collecting non-perishable food items at home games throughout November. The collection efforts will culminate in Hockey Heals Hunger Night on Friday, Nov. 21, when any person who donates five non-perishable food items will receive free admission to that night’s contest against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank for our Hockey Heals Hunger campaign,” Team President and General Manager Paul Baxter said. “No person should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. With the help of our fans, we are confident that we will be able to support the Food Bank’s goal of a hunger-free community at a time when the need is greatest.”
Betsi Lujan, the marketing and development director for the WFAFB noted the importance of the timing of the Hockey Heals Hunger campaign due to the approaching holiday season.
“The food drive time is crucial, due to the holidays and the corresponding increase in those seeking assistance with food,” Lujan said. “We are excited about partnering with the Wildcats and their fans to bring food to the over 74,000 individuals we serve annually.”
Fans that support the Hockey Heals Hunger campaign throughout the month will be eligible to win Wildcats prizes, including a signed jersey, game tickets and more. By donating three canned goods or other non-perishable food items, fans will be entered into a raffle that will take place at the end of the month-long campaign. Fans are encouraged to enter more than once throughout the month, but may only enter once per game.
Founded in 1982, the WFAFB provides food directly to qualified charitable agencies offering food assistance and/or feeding programs, who then distribute the food, free of charge, to their hungry clients. The types of agencies that partner with the WFAFB include emergency pantries, youth programs, senior citizen programs, soup kitchens, rehab centers, shelters, halfway houses and low-income day care centers. In 2012, 3.25 million pounds of food were distributed to assist more than 211 nonprofit partner agencies and programs in 12 counties across North Texas.
Single-game tickets for the 2014-15 Wildcats season are on sale now at the Kay Yeager Coliseum box office. Stay updated on the latest team news and notes by connecting with the Wildcats on Facebook (WFWildcats), Twitter (@WFWildcats), Instagram (WFWildcats) and on YouTube (Wichita Falls Wildcats).
###
If you have any additional questions or need more information about this event or the Wildcats season please call Ben Horner at 845-309-0516 or email at bhorner@wfwildcatshockey.com