Fallon Health, WooSox partner to address hunger

Photo | Courtesy of Worcester Red Sox A fan holds one of the "K" strikeout signs promoting Fallon Health's Strike Out Hunger Campaign

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By Alexander MacDougall

Worcester-based Fallon Health and the Worcester Red Sox are once again partnering up for the Strike Out Hunger campaign during the minor league team’s 2022 season, this time with new fan initiatives to help in the fight against food insecurity.

The first initiative is a food drive that will be held on Sundays, in which fans can donate non-perishable food items at marked bins located at Polar Park’s Gate A entrance, also known as Fallon Health Square. The second is specially marked “K” cards that will be handed out to fans at Gate A which can be held up to celebrate the team’s strikeouts, but also displays the Strike Out Hunger campaign logo to help raise awareness.

“In Worcester County, 1 in 10 people don’t have enough healthy food to eat,” said Richard Burke, president and CEO of Fallon Health, in a Wednesday press release statement. “‘Strike Out Hunger’ is an opportunity for Fallon to live up to our mission of improving health and inspiring hope by making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. We are proud to take on the important issue of food insecurity and hope others will join us in helping those struggling with hunger.”

As part of the campaign, Fallon has pledged to donate $50 for every strikeout by the WooSox at Polar Park throughout the 2022 season to the Worcester County Food Bank, with a guaranteed commitment of $50,000. Fallon donated that same amount last year during the team’s inaugural season.

In the same press release statement, Worcester County Food Bank CEO Jean McMurray said food insecurity was a continuing concern in the county, due to aftershocks from the coronavirus pandemic and rising prices caused by inflation.

“More of our neighbors are in need of assistance than a year ago due to the ongoing pandemic, child tax credit payments ending, and the higher cost for food, housing and fuel,” said McMurray. “We are grateful to Fallon Health and the Worcester Red Sox for stepping up to the plate to help our neighbors across Worcester County.”