The eighth annual Jaguars Food Drive is underway with area Publix stores accepting non-perishable food items to help fight hunger on the First Coast. Last year's drive brought in more than 70,000 pounds of food – enough for approximately 47,000 meals.
The Lutheran Social Services Second Harvest Food Bank, northeast Florida's regional food bank, will again serve as the central resource for receiving and distributing the donated food to 17 area counties.
Fans are encouraged to stop by local Publix supermarkets to drop off their non-perishable food items from now until November 11. The stadium game day collection is set for Sunday, November 10, when the Jaguars play host to the Washington Redskins in a 4:05 p.m. game. Members of JagNet, the team's volunteer wives group, will be accepting donations starting at 2:00 p.m. Player's and coach's wives will be at each of the stadium's four main gates. The Jaguars' cheerleaders, The Roar, will also be accepting donations at the stadium's Touchdown Club West entrance.
Fans who bring five or more items to the game day collection and/or to the Publix stores during the scheduled player appearances listed below will receive a special edition 11x17 size poster designed especially for the food drive. Player appearances at select Publix supermarkets are scheduled on the following days and locations with players to be announced at a later date.
Tuesday, October 29, from 6-7:30 p.m.
Publix Store 178 (13170 Atlantic Blvd., Suite 29)
Thursday, October 31, from 6-7:30 p.m.
Publix Store 649 (6001-45 Argyle Forest Blvd.)
Thursday, November 7, from 6-7:30 p.m.
Publix Store 345 (7764-11 Normandy Blvd.)
Television and radio public service announcements featuring Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell and his wife Stacy and tight end Kyle Brady and his wife Kristi are presently being distributed to promote the drive.
The LSS Second Harvest Food Bank, Northeast Florida's regional food bank, will again serve as the central resource for receiving and distributing the donated food items. More than five million pounds of donated food are distributed each year to over 350 non-profit agencies across our area. In 1999, the food bank distributed approximately four million meals to over 350 daycares, senior centers, churches and other non-profit sharing agencies. LSS is also currently feeding 3,000 children a day at 45 different sites through the Kids Cafes program.
