Chicago White Sox Wives Host Annual Food Drive Benefiting the Greater Chicago Food Depository

08/23/2007, CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox Wives will host the eighth annual food drive benefiting the Greater Chicago Food Depository at U.S. Cellular Field on Saturday, Aug. 25, during the White Sox vs. Red Sox game at 2:55 p.m. Donations of canned and non-perishable food items will be accepted at Gates 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the ballpark from 1:30 p.m. until the top of the third inning. Everyone making a donation will be entered into a drawing for White Sox memorabilia.

Jessica Erstad, Jennifer Konerko, Judy Kusnyer, LaShunda Singleton, and other family members of players and coaches, along with Food Depository volunteers, will be on hand to accept food and monetary donations. All proceeds benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

"As part of the White Sox family, we feel it is important to give back to the city that has shown all of us, players and families, so much support," said Jessica Erstad, wife of White Sox outfielder Darin Erstad. "We hope that our contributions express some of our gratitude to the community, while helping neighbors in need."

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, a not-for-profit distribution center providing food for hungry people, strives to end hunger in our community. In 2006, the White Sox Wives' food drive collected over 2,500 pounds of food and over $3,600, which is the equivalent of over 14,600 meals. The Food Depository distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 600 agencies - soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters - in Cook County.

"We thank the White Sox wives, players and all fans for going to bat for the hungry men, women and children in the community," said Kate Maehr, the Food Depository's executive director. "Every week, almost 90,000 people in Cook County rely on the food provided by the Great Chicago Food Depository - that is more than two times the capacity of U.S. Cellular Field. The White Sox Wives' food drive will help us continue to provide food to those in need."

Of those relying on food provided by the Greater Chicago Food Depository, 33 percent are children 18 years of age and younger, almost 40 percent of clients are among the working poor and about 10 percent are senior citizens, according to the 2005 Hunger in America study that was conducted by the Food Depository and America's Second Harvest.

Source: MLB

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