This time last year, the Cash Explosion Road Show rolled into Steubenville and kicked off the annual Facing Hunger Campaign. Members of the community and Cash Explosion fans who came to the show donated thousands of pounds of food that day.
That’s usually how the campaign kicks off.
This year amid Coronavirus, we can’t get together to collect donations, but the Cash Explosion crew wasn’t going to let the pandemic stop the campaign from moving forward.
“We knew we couldn’t let the Facing Hunger Campaign fall to the wayside because of the pandemic. We had to find a way to kick start the campaign and help the people in our state who are suffering right now. A telethon seemed like the perfect way to do it.” Cash Explosion Executive Producer Barry Riley said.
The Cash Explosion staff hosted the telethon with the Ohio Lottery staff, and the staff turned out in great numbers to support the worthy cause.
More than 250 employees joined in through Microsoft Teams to challenge each other to donate to the Facing Hunger Campaign.
It didn’t take long for the contributions to begin pouring in. In just 14 minutes the gauge went from zero to $1,000 in donations. When the thirty-minute telethon was done, generous Ohio Lottery employees had contributed $9,100 to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. As of the time of this post, the total reached $10,000.
“I’m so proud of the generous and charitable spirits of our Ohio Lottery staff. The positive difference they have made – and continue to make – for the many Ohio families in need this holiday season, is something we all should be proud of,” Ohio Lottery Director Pat McDonald said.
Joree Navotny, Director of External Affairs with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, was excited to see the donations roll in, and she said they will be put to great use.
“We can leverage each $1 donated to secure about four meals for hungry Ohioans, so the enormously generous contributions made so far by Ohio Lottery employees toward the Facing Hunger campaign will help us provide nearly 40,000 meals to struggling families, seniors and displaced workers.” Novotny said.
Foodbanks across the state are in great need at this time. Nearly 1 in 5 Ohioans – including more than 1 in 4 Ohio children – are experiencing food insecurity in 2020.
If you’d like to help,
click here to make your donation to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.