UB players 'Sack Hunger,' team with Price Rite Marketplace to aid local food pantry

Price Rite Marketplace and the University at Buffalo football program once again teamed up to fight against food insecurity through the annual “Sack Hunger” campaign.

As part of the partnership, Price Rite Marketplace donates a “sack” of groceries that includes canned goods and fresh produce, along with full pallets of shelf-stable food products (such as rice, cereals and others) to the New Beginnings Food Pantry from Amherst Baptist Church.

The number of sacks donated reflects the sacks recorded by the football team. A sack takes place when the quarterback is tackled by the defense for a loss of yards before a pass is thrown.

“We’re grateful for the University at Buffalo football team’s partnership in our efforts to fight hunger in the communities Price Rite serves,” said Kevin McDonnell, SVP operations, Price Rite Marketplace. “By working closely with partners like the Bulls and the New Beginnings Food Pantry, we are better able to help feed those in need and build a better community.”

This year, Buffalo recorded 37 sacks and, in doing so, helped individuals and families facing food insecurity. For the 2021 season, the Bulls went 2-6 in league play and finished with an overall 4-8 record.

“We’d like to thank Price Rite Marketplace and New Beginnings Food Pantry for the partnership that we’ve been able to create over the last few years,” UB football head coach Maurice Linguist said. “Thirty-seven sacks of food will be donated this year. We are going to do everything in our power to keep that number going up, and continue to contribute in any way we can to Buffalo and Western New York as a whole.”

The “Sack Hunger” program kicked off in September 2018 as an integrated relationship with University at Buffalo Athletics and its multimedia rights holder, Learfield’s Bulls Sports Properties. The “Sack Hunger” fundraising campaign is part of a joint effort to tackle hunger locally through a season-long promotion in partnership with the UB football team. Since the program’s inception, more than 130 sacks of food have been donated to the New Beginnings Food Pantry.

At this year’s event, held on March 31 at the Price Rite Marketplace of Amherst, Price Rite associates joined coaches from the University at Buffalo football to present the sacks of food to representatives from New Beginnings Food Pantry from Amherst Baptist Church.

A press release said, “Price Rite Marketplace is a committed member of the local community, and fighting hunger is at the heart of Price Rite Marketplace’s charitable giving. Price Rite fights food insecurity through its support of local food banks, its annual ‘Check-Out Hunger’ fundraising campaign, and its partnership with Feed The Children, contributing approximately $500,000 annually to local food banks and food pantries to benefit families in need within the communities its stores serves.”

For more information, visit www.priceritemarketplace.com.