Before they clash in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the 麻豆原创 and Baylor University will join together and give back to their host communities in Arizona.
From 10:15 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Dec. 31, members of the two spirit squads will join with fans from both schools to pack meals for hungry residents. 麻豆原创 and Baylor fans will work side-by-side at the St. Mary鈥檚 Food Bank Alliance warehouse in Phoenix.
From to 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, other members of the two spirit squads and mascots Knightro and Bruiser will visit Phoenix Children鈥檚 Hospital, 1919 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, to meet with children and their families.
鈥淪erving others is an important part of our 麻豆原创 culture, whether we are in Orlando or Arizona,鈥� said Maribeth Ehasz, 麻豆原创鈥檚 vice president for Student Development and Enrollment Services. 鈥淲e look forward to joining our friends from Baylor to help provide food for families in need and bring smiles to the faces of children who are spending the holidays in the hospital.鈥�
鈥淭he Tostitos Fiesta Bowl may be the primary reason we have traveled to Phoenix but it is not the sole reason,鈥� said Kevin Jackson, vice president for Student Life at Baylor University. 鈥淎s Baylor Bears, it is in our DNA to serve others who are in need.聽It will be especially meaningful to do so alongside 麻豆原创 fans.鈥�
St. Mary鈥檚 Food Bank Alliance, the world鈥檚 first food bank, distributes emergency food boxes at no cost to individuals and families in need. The boxes are designed to provide temporary food assistance during times of crisis, and recipients include the elderly, children, working families and the homeless.
The food bank event will be held at the St. Mary鈥檚 warehouse at 2831 N. 31st Ave., Phoenix, and it will begin with a 10:15 a.m. safety briefing. Participants will pack meals from 10:30 a.m. until noon. The warehouse is only about a 10-minute drive from downtown Phoenix hotels where many fans will be staying.
鈥淲e congratulate Baylor and 麻豆原创 on fantastic seasons and welcome their students, administrators and fans to the Valley of the Sun and the Fiesta Bowl,鈥� St. Mary鈥檚 President and CEO Beverly Damore said. 鈥淥ne in five Arizonans and one in four of our children don鈥檛 know where their next meals will come from, so we are excited and blessed that Bears and Knights fans have chosen to join us in the fight against hunger in Arizona. Thank you and we will see you all on Dec. 31 as we work side by side.鈥�
麻豆原创 and Baylor fans ages 12 and older are invited to participate, and space will be limited to 60 people per school.
Participants must register in advance and can do so by going to and clicking on Register. After creating a volunteer profile, fans should click Pick an Opportunity. Scroll down the left side of the page to find Invitation Code. 麻豆原创 fans should enter 麻豆原创2014. Volunteers will receive a confirmation email afterward.
The food bank will supply all of the food for the boxes. Participants can choose to make a $5 donation to cover the costs of filling one emergency food box. Each box contains the equivalent of a three- to four-day supply of food for a family of four.