The Toledo Walleye hockey team partnered with the Toledo Area Ministries (TAM) to raise money for TAM's Feed Your Neighbor program, which aims to package 100,000 meals for families in need. During a game, the Walleye raffled off a player's jersey, raising $1,370 for the meal packaging effort. TAM and volunteers will distribute the packaged meals through area food banks. The Walleye were happy to support this important community cause.

1. Steven Jerzykowski
TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo Walleye helped families in need during Friday night’s game
against the Cincinnati Cyclones.
Toledo Area Ministries partnered up with the Walleye to raise money to produce over 100,000
meals for local families.
The Toledo Area Ministries is a non-profit organization that has been helping the Toledo area for
close to 128 years. TAM assists the community and focuses on three components when helping
others, meeting human need, creating community, and working for justice says DonnaJean
Stockmaster, Community Connections Director for TAM.
TAM and Toledo Lucas Country Hunger Task Force are combining for the second time for a
Feed Your Neighbor program. This program wishes to package 100,000 meals for those
experiencing food uncertainties in our community.
The Toledo Walleye were happy to partner with TAM to help the cause. “This is a great cause
and a great chance for the Walleye to give back to the community” said Rob Wiercinski,
Community Relations and Communications Manager for the Toledo Walleye.
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 has
generated a great turnout. Each one has resulted in a successful night.” said Wiercinski.
Part of the proceeds from jersey 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 having 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 resulted in a spot in December 30th’s issue of Sports Illustrated.
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 the 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” said Stockmaster.

2. “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”
said Wiercinski.
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” said Chris Callaghan, Toledo Resident.
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 21st.
The city of Toledo was able to enjoy a victory off the ice as well as on the ice tonight.
The Walleye won the game 4-0 over the Cincinnati Cyclones, and were propelled by a pair of
goals from forward Martin Frk. Both of Frk’s goals came in the 3rd period and increased his
season goal total to 17. Goalie Neil Conway recorded his first shutout of the season by stopping
all 22 shots attempted by Cincinnati.
The team’s next game is tomorrow night as they travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana to take on the
comets.
Future charity events being held by the Walleye include ‘Pink in the Rink’ on February 28th and
March 1st. Theme jerseys will be worn by the team and will then be auctioned off and the money
raised will benefit the Walleye Wishing Well and Susan G. Komen of Northwest Ohio.
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.
The final event of the 100,000 meals project will take place at Lourdes University on March 21st.
This is the packaging portion of the project and it is a daylong event starting at 9:00am.
Volunteers will handle the event, and if anyone is interested in volunteering, please visit
http://www.tamohio.org/j25/index.php/act-now/volunteer-opportunities or
www.lourdes.edu/campusministry.