The Cincinnati Bengals are putting their on‑field teamwork into the community by partnering with Fifth Third Bank for a new hunger‑relief effort called “Huddle for Hunger.” The initiative will assemble thousands of “power packs” – each containing more than a dozen shelf‑stable, kid‑friendly food items – and distribute them to students at 20 Cincinnati schools throughout November.
How the program works
Each Friday, a power pack will be sent home with a child, providing enough nourishment to cover the weekend when school meals are unavailable. The packs are designed to be easy for families to store and serve, helping to ensure that no student goes hungry over the weekend.
Partners on the ground
Freestore Foodbank, a long‑standing hunger‑relief organization in Greater Cincinnati, will handle the logistics of getting the packs into students’ hands. The nonprofit will coordinate with school districts and families to make sure the food reaches those who need it most.
“Huddle for Hunger demonstrates the power of teamwork to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students across Greater Cincinnati,” said Bengals director of community engagement Taylor Conklin. “We are proud to partner with Fifth Third to support Freestore Foodbank’s efforts to combat food insecurity and help ensure students have the nourishment they need to learn, grow and thrive.”
Why the focus on weekends
Research consistently shows that many low‑income families rely on school meals during the week, but face a nutrition gap when schools are closed. By delivering food on Fridays, the program directly addresses that gap, giving children a reliable source of nutrition for Saturday and Sunday.
Community impact
Local leaders have praised the collaboration as a model of how sports franchises and financial institutions can work together for the public good. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, who has championed food‑security initiatives, noted that “when our city’s biggest brands step up, it sends a powerful message that we all share responsibility for the well‑being of our children.”
Fifth Third Bank’s community‑investment team highlighted the partnership as part of its broader commitment to the region, noting that the bank has supported numerous education and hunger‑relief projects over the past decade.
Looking ahead
Organizers hope the Huddle for Hunger model can be expanded to additional schools and neighborhoods in future years, potentially involving other local businesses and nonprofit partners. The goal is to create a sustainable, community‑driven network that consistently provides weekend nutrition to the city’s most vulnerable students.
Families interested in learning more about the program or volunteering can contact Freestore Foodbank directly or visit the Bengals’ community outreach website for details.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
