Batesville, In. — The Batesville High School Varsity Football team used the 2017 season to fight hunger. Last season, the BHS team collected pledges from their fans through which the fans agreed to donate a dollar amount of their choosing for every turnover the Varsity Team forced throughout the season. 31 turnovers later and the team had raised $983 for the Batesville and Holton Food Pantries.
As the 2018 football season approaches, the Oldenburg Academy Football team has agreed to join Batesville Football in Turning Over Hunger in our community. “As a teacher and coach, we see things that other people in the community ordinarily do not see or think about. I can tell you that feeding families on a consistent basis with the Turnover for Hunger campaign in southeast Indiana is something that we should all support. There are students coming to classrooms hungry every day who count on the local schools for their main meals. The Turnover for Hunger campaign will certainly assist the most basic needs of many families and students in the area,” stated Oldenburg Academy Football Coach, Eric Feller.
Both football teams are once again looking to the support of their fans, alumni, family and friends to help reach their goal of $15,000 to combat hunger at the eight food pantries serving Ripley County. Individuals may pledge a dollar amount of their choosing to donate for every turnover their favorite team forces in the 2018 regular and postseasons, or donate a flat onetime donation directly to the Turnover Hunger program. “The Ripley County Community Foundation works hard to assist groups to give back to their community and I’m happy to see the communities of Batesville and Oldenburg embrace that philosophy. No one, especially children should ever have to go hungry. The Turning Over Hunger program embraces what both our communities are all about…caring people who are always happy to lend a hand. Whether you’re rooting for the Bulldogs or the Twisters, there is one thing both fan bases have in common…the desire to make sure families are able to receive the nourishment they need,” stated Batesville Schools Superintendent, Paul Ketchum.
There are many ways to participate and donate. Individuals may complete a Turnover Hunger Pledge Form at the football games and return it to the Batesville football concession stands, Oldenburg football parent rep, the Ripley County Community Foundation, 13 East George Street, Suite B, Batesville, IN 47006, via email to [email protected], donate online via PayPal at www.rccfonline.org, and/or donate via QR code on your phone during and/or after the games.
“The Ripley County Community Foundation works hard to assist every individual or group in their quest to give back to their community. The RCCF Board of Directors immediately recognized the Turnover Hunger initiative as a way for the community foundation to empower local youth with the tools needed to fulfill their charitable wishes. The Community Foundation is proud to administer this program for the Batesville and Oldenburg Academy Football teams and hopes the seed planted in 2017 will continue to grow in 2018 and will become a countywide initiative in the future,” stated Amy Streator, RCCF Executive Director.
