Fans can drop off non-perishable food items in designated locations at each home game beginning with the Sept. 11 game against the McMaster Marauders. Look for the signs outside the stadium for drop locations.
LONDON, Ont. – Building on the success of the 2009 Thanksgiving food drive, where Western football aimed to raise the weight of their offensive line, the Mustangs are challenging fans to a new task: collect the weight of every offensive lineman on the roster in non-perishable food donations.
At approximately 275 lbs per player, and 15 offensive lineman on the roster, this goal will be over 4,000 lbs in total.
“We’re really happy to continue to help this great cause,” says offensive line coach and recruiting assistant Chris Bertoia. “Our guys are excited about it; they like doing this type of outreach. Now it’s a full fall season we have and we hope to surpass last year’s total.”
In 2009, many Londoners were able to benefit from the generosity of the Western Mustangs football fans, the players, and friends at AMJ Campbell Van Lines as the Mustangs raised close to 2,000 lbs of non-perishable food items in their first annual food drive.
Ron Cook and Pierre Frappier of AMJ Campbell Van Lines, the official moving company of the Mustangs, donated a truck and driver to the cause to ensure the goods were delivered.
Bertoia organized players for visits to local area grocery stores where Western gave out bags and had shoppers collect a bag of non-perishables in early October.
The offensive line is ready to help again.
Western hopes to surpass – and even double – last year’s donations.
“We could not have been happier last year,” Bertoia said. “This went very well. Now we want to up the ante and help even more people.”
In 2009, players Zachary Pollari (Guelph, Ont.), Eric Armitage (London, Ont.), Ahmad Jaradat (London, Ont.) and Andy Rady (London ,Ont.) helped deliver the food in time for Thanksgiving.
Armitage, Alexander Rodenhiser (London, Ont.), Pat Smith (Pickering, Ont.), Garet Dickinson (Aurora, Ont.), Spencer Byrne (London, Ont.), Joshua Burley (Guelph, Ont.), Michael Gatien (Lively, Ont.), Sean Reczulski (Oshawa, Ont.) and Rady all helped out with the grocery store initiative.
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