1. The Toledo Walleye help localfamilies in need
By: Steven Jerzykowski
February 1st 9:30 a.m.
TOLEDO, Ohio - Toledo Area Ministries
partnered up with the Walleye during Friday
night’s game at the Huntington Center to raise
money to produce over 100,000 meals for local
families.
TAM and Toledo Lucas Country Hunger Task
Force are combining for the second time for a
Feed Your Neighbor program. This program
hopes to package 100,000 meals for those
experiencing food uncertainties in our
community.
Kyle Rogers, left, helps lead the Walleye to a 4-0 victory.
The Toledo Area Ministries are a non-profit organization that has been helping the Toledo area
for close to 128 years. TAM assists the community and focuses on meeting human need, creating
community, and working for justice, DonnaJean Stockmaster, Community Connections Director
for TAM said.
The Toledo Walleye were happy to partner with TAM to help the effort. “This is a great cause
and a great chance for the Walleye to give back to the community,” Rob Wiercinski, Community
Relations and Communications Manager for the Toledo Walleye said.
During the game, a raffle was held for a Kyler Rogers’ game worn jersey to benefit the TAM
fundraiser. Rogers has played more games in Walleye uniform than any other player. The jersey
raffle raised $1,370 and part of the proceeds went to the 100,000 meals project. A portion of each
game ticket sold was also donated to the task.
“This was the 4th jersey raffled, or auctioned, off by the Walleye this season and each one has
resulted in a successful night,” Wiercinski said.
Part of the proceeds from the raffle also went to the Walleye Wishing Well. The Walleye
Wishing Well is the team’s charitable fund that benefits local groups supporting youth
recreational groups and activities.
The Walleye success in jersey raffles and auctions is nothing new. The team was able to raise
over $65,000 for local charities during the 2013-14 season. Last season’s Ugly Sweater jersey
earned a spot in the December 30 issue of Sports Illustrated.

2. Lourdes University is the host site for the
Feed Your Neighbor project. The university
provides warehouse and packaging space,
and volunteers handle the labor of
packaging the meals. These volunteers were
at tonight’s game talking about the cause
with Walleye fans, and selling raffle tickets
for Kyle Rodgers’ jersey.
“The night was a success. The raffle
earnings surpassed our goal of $500 to help
contribute to the Feed Your Neighbor
program,” Stockmaster said. Volunteers help package meals for the Feed Your Neighbor Program
“This was our first time working with the Toledo Area Ministries and we had a great turnout,
even with the cold weather, the support from Toledo was fantastic and they helped a great
cause,” Wiercinski said.
Citizens of Toledo were pleased to contribute to the 100,000 meal mission. “This is a great city
to live in and events like tonight prove that. I was more than happy to give back to the people of
Toledo,” Chris Callaghan, Toledo Resident said.
The meals will be distributed by the Seagate Food Bank throughout Northwest Ohio to its
member agencies. The goal is to raise $15,000 to cover the cost of the meals by March 21.
The city of Toledo was able to enjoy a victory off the ice as well as on the ice tonight, when the
Walleye won the game 4-0 over the Cincinnati Cyclones.
All Bob Evans’ in Toledo will be helping the project as well. On March 4th, customers can
donate 15% of their bill to the Feed Your Neighbor Program by showing a fundraiser coupon to
a Bob Evans employee.
If anyone is interested in volunteering, please visit http://www.tamohio.org/j25/index.php/act-
now/volunteer-opportunities or www.lourdes.edu/campusministry. The final event of the
100,000 meals project will take place at Lourdes University on March 21. This is the packaging
portion of the project and it is a daylong event starting at 9:00 a.m.
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