Once an emergency fund was established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio State’s assistant football coaches followed the lead of head coach Ryan Day and other athletics department leaders by collectively pledging an additional $47,000 to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
The food bank is facing increasing needs for its services and food supplies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Larry Johnson, the Buckeyes’ associate head coach and defensive line coach, said there was no hesitation to help out from the Ohio State football program, which has always made a positive impact in the community.
“This is something we all wanted to do, almost immediately, after learning about the emergency fund,” Johnson said. “Our program and players have made many visits to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank over the years and we all feel a responsibility to assist during this time of crisis.”
Day and his wife, Nina, as well as head men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann and his wife, Lori, and athletic director Gene Smith and his wife, Sheila, announced a $175,000 donation to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund on April 7.
The purpose of the emergency fund is to help the food bank acquire and distribute food and supplies to families in need and to also help families with an increased demand due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Nine dollars worth of groceries will be distributed for every dollar donated to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank Emergency Fund.
Anyone interested in making a donation to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank and helping those affected by COVID-19 can do so at www.midohiofoodbank.org/buckeyenation.
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