Siena Men’s Basketball Head Coach Carmen Maciariello, Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York CEO Molly Nicol and Siena Women’s Basketball Head Coach Jim Jabir (left to right)
Fans encouraged to donate during basketball doubleheader the weekend of Feb. 4 and 5
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Siena Athletics will team up with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York to support hunger relief efforts in the Capital Region during a basketball doubleheader on Feb. 4 and 5.
Fans are encouraged to donate nonperishable food items at the Siena women’s basketball game against Mount St. Mary’s at the UHY Center on Saturday, Feb. 4 and the men’s basketball game at MVP Arena against Niagara on Sunday, Feb. 5. Tipoff for both games is at 2 p.m.
Donations will be accepted from the time gates open at 1 p.m. through the start of the second half. The Feb. 4 collection will take place in the UHY Center lobby; donations may be made at the Feb. 5 game on the MVP Arena concourse outside sections 104 and 105.
The post-holiday food drive addresses an annual donation shortfall traditionally experienced by the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. Priority is placed on healthy staples like soup, cereal, oatmeal and 100% juice; personal hygiene products such as shampoo, soap, deodorant and bathroom tissue; and culturally responsive foods like dried beans, rice and masa flour. A flyer with the Regional Food Bank’s highest-need items may be viewed here.
Monetary donations will also be accepted. Each dollar donated provides four meals for local families.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York to host food drives at our women’s and men’s basketball games this coming weekend,” said Siena College Director of Athletics and Vice President John D’Argenio. “We can always count on our fans to carry on the Saints’ spirit of community service, and we encourage all to help support the Food Bank’s mission while cheering on our dedicated student-athletes.”
“Food insecurity is a year-round challenge; it doesn’t stop after the holidays,” said Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York Chief Executive Officer Molly Nicol. “The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York is grateful to Siena Athletics and its fans for helping us ensure that hunger relief remains visible throughout the year. Together we can make a positive difference in our community.”
Food distribution to families increased by nearly 40% in 2020 and has remained at elevated levels compared to the historical norm. The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York provided nearly 48 million pounds of food to the community in 2022, equating to roughly 40 million meals.
The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to fighting food insecurity in our communities since 1982. The Regional Food Bank collects donated food from the food industry and distributes it to nearly 1,000 charitable agencies feeding the hungry across 23 counties in northeastern New York. The Regional Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks.
For more information on the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, visit regionalfoodbank.net.
Siena men’s and women’s basketball tickets may be purchased by contacting the Siena Fan Relations Management Center at (518) 487-2202, online at sienasaints.com/tickets, or by e-mail at [email protected].