Siena Men's Basketball Helps Out at Food Bank
Siena Sports Information
Loudonville, NY- In what has become an annual tradition, members of the Siena men's basketball team lent a hand at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York in Latham on January 5. Their assignment was to sift through bins of donated apples and pack them up for needy families.
"We take the opportunity we have to help out in the community very seriously," Head Men's Basketball Coach Fran McCaffery said. "Siena is a special place where the Franciscan values really mean something and we are thankful for the chance to help in any way we can."
The warehouse visit coincided with the successful Food Drive held during the Saints' recent game with Mount St. Mary's January 2.
A record amount of food - 755 pounds - was collected during the Food Drive and an additional $750 through raffle donations. This translates into 580 meals while each dollar raised can be turned into $12 worth of food.
"We look forward to this visit every year," Executive Director of the Food Bank Mark Quandt said. "These are challenging economic times as everyone knows and we were so excited to have record donations from Siena fans."
This is the fourth consecutive year that Siena's student-athletes have provided their assistance to the Food Bank's efforts and volunteered their time for charitable work during the academic winter break.
The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York has been serving the underprivileged since 1982. The Food Bank works with food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, and residency programs that serve the elderly and disabled in 23 counties throughout New York, stretching from the Canadian border to Rockland and Putnam counties, and east from the Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut borders to Fulton, Otsego and Delaware counties.
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