Major League Baseball and MLBPA Donate $1 Million to Emergency Food Services

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) have announced a joint $1 million donation to help fight hunger due to nationwide school closures and quarantines stemming from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The donation will be split evenly between Feeding America and Meals on Wheels America.

“In these difficult times of navigating this pandemic, it is important that we come together as a society to help the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said MLB commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. in a written statement. “As an institution, baseball is extending our commitment to addressing childhood hunger and food availability issues during this crisis. We are grateful for the partnership with our players on this critical issue, which has the potential to deeply affect children and seniors.”

Tony Clark, executive director of the MLBPA, said: “In this time of international crisis, players are eager to do their part both individually and collectively to ease the significant burdens placed on the most vulnerable people in our communities. This contribution represents one of those efforts.”

Feeding America plans on distributing funds to local member food banks in high-need areas across the United States. The funds will help feed children and families impacted by current, and possibly extended, school closures and other forms of disruptions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Meals on Wheels America will use the emergency funds to boost the size of the network to provide in-home meals to vulnerable senior citizens during this time of crisis.

“Feeding America is tremendously grateful to Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association for their commitment to helping children and families in need,” said Lauren Biedron, vice president of corporate partnerships at Feeding America. “Member food banks are committed to helping their communities every day as well as when disaster strikes. This donation will help people who struggle to put food on their tables during this pandemic.”

“On behalf of the nationwide Meals on Wheels network, I want to extend heartfelt gratitude to Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association for their substantial contribution in response to COVID-19,” said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO, Meals on Wheels America. “It will take all of us coming together to ensure our most at-risk Americans remain healthy, and Major League Baseball and its players have set an example for others by helping us to ensure homebound seniors will continue to receive the meals they desperately need amid this evolving national crisis.”We’re on, like, Day 6. On Day 50, celebs are going to looking for Pepe Silvia.