Once again, Colorado Rockies players have a chance to help fight hunger while trying to win games.
UCHealth announced on Thursday it will donate $5,000 via the Colorado Rockies Foundation to Feeding Colorado every time a player hits any portion of its “Hit the Mitt” outfield sign.
Feeding Colorado works with five food banks — Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado, Community Food Share, Food Bank for Larimer County, Food Bank of the Rockies and Weld Food Bank — to assist people from all 64 counties.
“It’s our great honor to be this year’s Hit the Mitt charity, and this support comes at a pivotal moment in our work,’’ Kim Da Silva, Feeding Colorado board member and Community Food Share executive director, said in a press release. “The pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to hunger relief, including a surge in need among Coloradans. It is thanks to partners like UCHealth and the Colorado Rockies that the five Feeding Colorado food banks are able to serve every county throughout Colorado.”
Weld Food Bank Chief Development Officer Stephanie Gausch previously told the Greeley Tribune that the organization has seen a 90% increase in families seeking assistance.
In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, roughly four in 10 people who visited food banks were there for the first time, according to Feeding America.
UCHealth currently partners with Food Bank for Larimer County through its Family Medicine Center food pantry, but this opportunity helps expand its reach.
“We appreciate Feeding Colorado and the important work its food banks do for people across the state,” Manny Rodriguez, chief marketing, experience and customer officer for UCHealth, said in the release. “We’re thrilled to bring back this challenge in its third season to see how many times the Colorado Rockies will homer out to the ‘Hit the Mitt’ sign.”
Weld Food Bank can provide four meals per dollar donated. If it receives $1,000 per UCHealth donation, that can supply 4,000 meals for children and families who are struggling with hunger.
This content was originally published here.