Before they clash in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the University of Central Florida and Baylor University will join together and give back to their host communities in Arizona.
From 10:15 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Dec. 31, members of the two spirit squads will join with fans from both schools to pack meals for hungry residents. UCF and Baylor fans will work side-by-side at the St. Mary 麻豆精品 S檚 Food Bank Alliance warehouse in Phoenix.
From to 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, other members of the two spirit squads and mascots Knightro and Bruiser will visit Phoenix Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Hospital, 1919 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, to meet with children and their families.
麻豆精品 S淪erving others is an important part of our UCF culture, whether we are in Orlando or Arizona, 麻豆精品 S� said Maribeth Ehasz, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 vice president for Student Development and Enrollment Services. 麻豆精品 S淲e look forward to joining our friends from Baylor to help provide food for families in need and bring smiles to the faces of children who are spending the holidays in the hospital. 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S淭he Tostitos Fiesta Bowl may be the primary reason we have traveled to Phoenix but it is not the sole reason, 麻豆精品 S� said Kevin Jackson, vice president for Student Life at Baylor University. 麻豆精品 S淎s Baylor Bears, it is in our DNA to serve others who are in need.聽It will be especially meaningful to do so alongside UCF fans. 麻豆精品 S�
St. Mary 麻豆精品 S檚 Food Bank Alliance, the world 麻豆精品 S檚 first food bank, distributes emergency food boxes at no cost to individuals and families in need. The boxes are designed to provide temporary food assistance during times of crisis, and recipients include the elderly, children, working families and the homeless.
The food bank event will be held at the St. Mary 麻豆精品 S檚 warehouse at 2831 N. 31st Ave., Phoenix, and it will begin with a 10:15 a.m. safety briefing. Participants will pack meals from 10:30 a.m. until noon. The warehouse is only about a 10-minute drive from downtown Phoenix hotels where many fans will be staying.
麻豆精品 S淲e congratulate Baylor and UCF on fantastic seasons and welcome their students, administrators and fans to the Valley of the Sun and the Fiesta Bowl, 麻豆精品 S� St. Mary 麻豆精品 S檚 President and CEO Beverly Damore said. 麻豆精品 S淥ne in five Arizonans and one in four of our children don 麻豆精品 S檛 know where their next meals will come from, so we are excited and blessed that Bears and Knights fans have chosen to join us in the fight against hunger in Arizona. Thank you and we will see you all on Dec. 31 as we work side by side. 麻豆精品 S�
UCF and Baylor fans ages 12 and older are invited to participate, and space will be limited to 60 people per school.
Participants must register in advance and can do so by going to and clicking on Register. After creating a volunteer profile, fans should click Pick an Opportunity. Scroll down the left side of the page to find Invitation Code. UCF fans should enter UCF2014. Volunteers will receive a confirmation email afterward.
The food bank will supply all of the food for the boxes. Participants can choose to make a $5 donation to cover the costs of filling one emergency food box. Each box contains the equivalent of a three- to four-day supply of food for a family of four.