MASON CITY – To fight through the summer lull in donations and contributions that is always a challenge, a cash drive will be held by the local food bank.
According to volunteer Ozzie Ohl, the food bank takes a real hit during the summer as folks are not in the same giving mood they are during the holidays.
“The holiday seasons witnesses a lot of donations and food drive events for Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank,” Mr. Ohl explained. “However, once the summer months come there is a dramatic dropoff in donations. That big drop off in donations really affects those who rely on food assistance services.”
Mr. Ohl said that once school ends, “there is an even higher reliance on our food bank to provide food to families and children during the lull.”
As a way to combat the decrease in donations, Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank
will hold a fund drive during this Saturday’s Mason City Mohawks versus Newman Knights baseball game.
“Strike Out Hunger and Home Runs for Hunger” is a baseball- themed fund raiser for food drive. This is an event that Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank holds each summer.
This year the local food bank has a food bank volunteer challenge match
pitting the Mohawk fans team of Dave Dunn, Gary Dasch, Carol Clayton, and Cheri Ross against Newman booster Ozzie Ohl.
Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank volunteers will be accepting cash donations at
the game.
Mohawk and Newman Knight fans can either hit a home run against hunger or
help strike out hunger with donations of $5, $10,$15, $20 or more.
A friendly competition between the two food banks teams will be determined
by which team’s fans contribute the greatest amount of money.
If the team of Dunn Dasch, Clayton, Heinz and Ross collect the larger amount, Ohl will appear around town the entire next week in Mohawk gear.
If Ohl wins the food bank volunteers will don Newman gear when they appear
at the Food bank the next week.
The Strike Out Hunger Food Drive is not the only event taking place at the
game.
Ohl said he believes this summertime event is very beneficial for raising
awareness on hunger. It is a family-orientated event that he said is
perfect for getting people involved with donating during the summer.
“Definitely one of the most popular events of the summer and something
we want to capitalize on. We are trying to get the word out and it is
always something fun to go and watch our local high school teams do,” Mr. Ohl said.
The game is scheduled for Sunday, June 28. The Sophomore baseball game starts at 1 PM. Varsity game begins at 4. Games are at Newman Catholic baseball diamond.