The gridiron heroes continue to give back to the community this week as they go through neighborhoods for their 16th Annual Rush for Food this Friday.
The Freshman, JV and Varsity football players from the Clarkston High School Football program will collect non-perishable food for Lighthouse Emergency Services, off Sashabaw Road.
‘It helps fill our pantry at a time when our food pantry is very low,? said Michele Robinson, volunteer coordinator and senior services specialist at Lighthouse. ‘Most of our food drives happen during the winter months. This gets us stocked for the rest of the summer and going into the winter months.?
For seniors Ian Eriksen and Jason McCowan it is special because it is their fourth and final Rush for Food.
‘It is a great program. I have experienced how it helps,? McCowan shared, explaining his mom can no longer work and his dad works 60-70 hours with a bad back. ‘There are times we don’t have food in our pantry. We sign up for holidays and we get so much food. My parents get a smile on their faces because we are able to give us food.?
He added it was great to begin as a freshman to sort out food and fill the shelves at Lighthouse.
‘A box of rice weighs about a pound,? he said. ‘It helps out so much. Rice isn’t something someone looks forward to at a meal. If you don’t have it a lot, when they get rice on their plate it is filling.?
‘We are helping out and doing something that will affect people in a positive way,? Eriksen added. ‘It gets us all together as a program doing something good.?
Lighthouse Emergency Services helps 400-500 families per month and the Wolves? goal this year is to collect 5,000 pounds.
The players will collect from the following neighborhoods, 6 – 7 p.m.: Almond Lane/Pinevalley, Autumn Shores, Birdland, Boyne Highlands, Bridge Lake Bluffs, BridgeValley, Brookstone, Chestnut Hills, Deer Valley, Deerwood, Glenwoods, HarborTowne, Hills of Kingston, Lake Waldon Village, Manors, Middlelake, Oakhurst, Old Pond, Peacefulvalley, Pebblecreek/King, Sashabaw Creek Meadows, Sashabaw Ridge, Sheringham, Softwater Woods/Ingomar farms, Spring Lake, Waldon Creek, Wyngate, Timber Ridge Trail and Old Cove Rd and Pheasant Run Road and WoodCreek Trail.
If your neighborhood is not listed, you are welcome to drop off donations at Lighthouse during business hours or 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, marking bags with Rush for Food/Clarkston Football.
Lighthouse is located at 6330 Sashabaw Road. For more information, please call 248-620-6116.
‘Everything helps,? said Eriksen.