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Turnover Hunger provides weekend meals for needy children
(BATESVILLE, Ind.) -- As the final regular season football game approaches, two local teams have continued their annual tradition of forcing fumbles for a good cause.
Turnover Hunger is a program supported by the Ripley County Community Foundation in partnership with the Milan Indians and Batesville Bulldogs football teams.
Whenever Milan or Batesville forces a turnover, a weekend backpack of food is donated to a needy child in Ripley County.
The Weekend Back Sack Program provides elementary school students who suffer from severe food insecurity with a backpack of kid-friendly, nonperishable food for the weekend.
It benefits kids at Batesville Primary School, Jac-Cen-Del Elementary School, Milan Elementary School, South Ripley Elementary School, and Sunman Elementary School.
To participate, fans pledge a dollar amount for every turnover forced, or 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.
Nearly 700 children in Ripley County are considered food insecure, according to the Indiana County Data Book.
More than 20 percent of those kids live in a home which does not qualify for Federal and State Nutrition programs.
"The growth from raising around $1500 year one to about $15,000 each of the past two years is amazing. These efforts have not just impacted Batesville kids but multiple school districts in the area. So, for our programs to not only help within our community but help plenty of other communities is a great precedent to set," said Batesville head coach Evan Ulery.
The Weekend Backpack Program relies solely upon charitable donations.
You can get involved by contacting either football program or by clicking here.
