Supporting local non-profits and those in need just before Christmas: The Rochester Americans version

Rochester, New York – On Wednesday, Dec. 7, Rochester Americans will play against the Syracuse Crunch in what appears to be one of three last home games this year before the annual Christmas break. But this article is not related to the game. This article is about the Holiday Food Drive, a giveaway event hosted by the Rochester Americans that will take before the Christmas break.

For the majority of Americans, the holiday season is one of the nicest times of the year, when everything around us is magical. The holiday season is also a time for family gatherings and giving and receiving. This is how everyone should celebrate the holidays, but some people are in need of help and are prevented from celebrating like most of us.

November and December are the months when local non-profits and foodbanks have to help a growing number of people. This is especially noticeable in cities like Rochester, where the winters are really cold and long, and people need shelter and clothes among all the other staff. But since the start of the pandemic, these organizations have been in constant need of additional funds and volunteers, problems that were fueled by inflation and rising prices on almost everything recently, preventing people from donating like they once did.

That’s why the Rochester Americans decided to host the Holiday Food Drive and help Foodlink, the regional food bank. Per the announcement from earlier this week, the Holiday Food Drive will take place during each of the next three home games. The Rochester Americans’ last home game before the Christmas break is set to take place on Friday, Dec. 23, when they will host the Crunch again.

“We’d like to thank everyone at the Amerks’ organization for supporting Foodlink during a time when many thousands of families are struggling to put food on the table,” said Julia Tedesco, President & CEO of Foodlink. “We know, during this critical time around the holiday season, that we can depend on Amerks fans to show up and support their neighbors!”

For more than four decades, Foodlink has been serving the city and people of Rochester consistently. That’s why Americans wanted to chime in this year and help the local food bank support more people during the winter months. The club said that those interested can donate both on gamedays and on non-gamedays during normal Box Office hours, Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Collection bins will be placed in the lower atrium, in front of the Blue Cross Arena Box Office, and fans are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items by dropping them off in the collection bins. Those who will donate will receive a complimentary voucher from the club that can be used for the Amerks home game on Wednesday, Dec. 28 against Utica.