Ryan and Nina Day, Chris and Lori Holtmann and Gene and Sheila Smith have joined together to donate $35,000 per month from April through August – for a total of $175,000 – to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund, an athletic department spokesman announced on Tuesday.
Each dollar donated equates to $9 worth of groceries, per the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, meaning the donations will allow for the purchase of more than $1.5 million of groceries. The food will help feed those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to an increased demand.
“We understand that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and that it will take months for many of our struggling neighbors to recover,” Mid-Ohio Foodbank president and CEO Matt Habash said in a statement. “We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of these amazing families to be on this journey with us.”
The Mid-Ohio Foodbank, which provides approximately 150,000 meals per day, has distributed 14 percent more food since March 23 compared to the same time period last year. Habash expects the gap to continue to widen.
Nina Day: “We keep reading about the thousands of central Ohioans who are losing their jobs, and it’s just devastating. Ryan and I hope that our family can help ease the burden a bit for other families in our community. We hope, too, that by our example other members of Buckeye Nation might join us in making donations to feed others.”
Chris Holtmann: “Our families want to support the thousands of Ohio families who are struggling to make ends meet because of the coronavirus. The last thing they need to worry about is how they’ll put food on the table.”
Gene Smith: “So many people in our community are struggling to feed their families right now. Our families wanted to do something to support those who need help. By contributing to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, we know we can make a significant impact.”
The trio of families hope their donations will encourage Ohio State fans to consider assisting the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, as well.
