(Ripley County, IN) – The Batesville and and Milan High School varsity football teams are teaming up with the Ripley County Community Foundation for a unique fundraising initiative: Turnover Hunger!
Through the 2024 football season, every turnover forced by either team will translate into donations for the Weekend Backsack Program, which provides elementary school students in Ripley County facing food insecurity with a backpack of kid-friendly, non-perishable food for the weekend. To join these athletes and support ‘Turnover Hunger’ you may pledge an amount for every turnover forced, or you may make a flat donation in support of each team’s effort. At the end of the season, all pledges will be collected and donations will be granted to Batesville Primary School, Jac-Cen-Del Elementary school, Milan Elementary, South Ripley Elementary school, and Sunman Elementary school. The grant dollars are used to support the Weekend Backsack Program.
Over 1,000 Ripley County Children are Food Insecure
According to Gleaners, an organization dedicated to providing food to those in need, throughout 21 different counties in Indiana, there are over 69,000 food insecure children in the 21 counties that they serve, which is a 12 percent food insecurity rate amongst children alone. More importantly, Gleaners data shows that Ripley County has some of the highest food insecurity rates across the 21 county service area. Revealing that around 13 percent of the county is facing food insecurity and 64% of those people are not eligible for SNAP benefits. This means that 1,010 children in Ripley County do not know when they will get their next meal.
Weekend Backsack Program
In Ripley County, the Weekend Backsack Program relies solely on charitable donations, which is why Coaches Ulery and Langferman are dedicating the 2024 football season to Turnover Hunger. Milan head football coach Ryan Langferman stated,“Milan football is once again proud to partner with the Ripley County Community Foundation and Batesville Football for this unique fundraising effort, knowing our efforts make a meaningful difference in our community. By tackling hunger together through the Turnover Hunger Program, we’re not just feeding children in Ripley County; we’re nourishing hope, ambition, and a brighter future for every young life we touch.” Batesville head football coach Evan Ulery states, “Turnover Hunger helps give that extra support for many families and most importantly kids in our area! I am proud of our community and this program for the continued growth and impact.”
You can join the effort
We invite all other high school football teams in the area to join the Turnover Hunger movement! This is a fantastic opportunity to: Make a positive impact: By working together, we can significantly increase donations to the Weekend Backsack program and ensure more children have access to nutritious foods over the weekends. Showcase your team’s commitment to the community: Demonstrate to your players, fans, and the entire community that your team values giving back and supporting those in need. Create a fun and competitive environment: Transform turnovers into a way to raise even more money for a worthy cause, adding a new layer of excitement to the rivalry between teams.
The Ripley County Community Foundation is committed to Connecting People Who Care with Causes that Matter and is located at 13 E. George Street, Suite B, Batesville. To learn how you can invest in the future of Ripley County, or to leave your legacy, contact the Ripley County Community Foundation at (812) 933-1098 or visit www.rccfonline.org.
(Ripley County Community Foundation press release)