Keeper of The Game, Pastime Training Center continue to strike out hunger with annual food drive

FRISCO, Texas – The Keeper of The Game Foundation and Pastime Training Center teamed up together for the fourth consecutive year for the Strike Out Hunger Food Drive to benefit the Frisco Family Services Food Pantry. The event resulted in a record-setting 2,970 pounds of non-perishable food items donated, which is a greater total than the previous three campaigns combined.

The donations have already helped provide countless meals during this holiday season for less fortunate individuals and families in the Frisco community.

“We are so grateful for our caring community members who made this year’s Strike Out Hunger Food Drive possible,” Frisco Family Services Volunteer Services Manager Elaine Smith-Poyourow said. “We were able to provide our neighbors in crisis with a turkey and everything needed to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal in the comfort of their own homes, as well as put food on the pantry shelves​.”

The annual four-week food drive also includes toiletries. All in all, 4,145 items were donated from Oct. 14-Nov. 12. In four years, more than 5,000 pounds of food has been provided to Frisco Family Services. The totals have increased each year.

“Community isn’t about where we live, but who we are,” Smith-Poyourow added. “Thank you to Keeper of the Game and Pastime Training Center for truly being community members that care.”

The event also serves as a competition between all Frisco ISD baseball teams to see who can donate the most items. Liberty High School, which is coached by Scott McGarrh, took home the trophy and won a pizza party from Keeper of The Game supporter Durkin’s Pizza.

Each team had representatives at Pastime Training Center – the primary drop-off location – on collection day (Nov. 14) to help load the Frisco Family Services truck. A group then traveled to the food pantry to unload the donations.

“It was another great year for the Strike Out Hunger Food Drive,” Keeper of The Game Founder James Vilade said. “The support of the local high school baseball teams was truly amazing. Each year we are able to help more and more families in need during the holiday season. We look forward to partnering with Jason Jennings and Pastime Training Center again next year to continue our mission of striking out hunger.”

Jennings was just as thrilled with the results, and is also looking forward to next year.

“Our Frisco community came up huge with 2,970 pounds of food,” said Jennings, who is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. “I am very proud of our Frisco ISD baseball teams and the work they put in to make this year’s Strike Out Hunger Food Drive such a success. Hopefully next year we can top the 3,000 pound mark!”

To learn about more ways to help Frisco Family Services, click here.

To see a photo gallery of the Strike Out Hunger Food Drive collection day, click here.