First pitch is set for the second annual Home Runs for the Hungry on May 4.
The game features a mix of past and present Barrie Baycats players, plus local celebrities and other athletes.
Ward 2 councillor Craig Nixon says the plan is for the game to be a yearly event helping the community.
“We're definitely planning on making this an annual event. We had a great time last year and we just see it getting bigger and bigger every year,”
Nixon said.
The event takes inspiration from the Barn Burner Hockey event.
“I remember driving home from the event thinking, you know, this is such a great event. It raises so much money. Maybe we should think about doing this in the summertime only with a baseball team,” Nixon said.
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The event raises money for the Barrie Food Bank and aims to keep shelves stocked throughout the summer.
Sharon Palmer, executive director of the Barrie Food Bank, says early summer months can often be a tough time for the food bank.
“We always have a bit of a tough time in the sort of June-July, early August timeframe because it's not a point in time where we have funds coming in and it's before we start to get donations from our local farmers, so it really does help us out,”
Palmer said.
The money raised goes to the food bank, helping feed over 7,000 people monthly, to purchase items like meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables.
The event aims to raise $30,000 through ticket sales and sponsorships.
There will be a 50/50 draw at the game courtesy of United Way Simcoe Muskoka. Tickets are $5 and are available for purchase at Rafflebox and the Barrie Food Bank website.
With the game set for May 4, Star Wars Day, there will be a contest with a prize for the best costume.
“It's on May the 4th, why not take advantage of that. Hopefully some kids and adults will dress up and come to the game and we'll have a special prize for the best costume there,”
Palmer said.
The first 500 attendees will receive a gift certificate for a free Chick-fil-A sandwich.
“Together we're not just playing ball, we're rallying our community to tackle hunger head-on. Every ticket sold, every swing, every cheer, and every home run brings us closer to our mission of building a community where no one goes hungry. So, grab your glove, grab your tickets, and let's knock hunger out of the park one swing at a time. Hope to see you there,” said Nixon.
The event is at Vintage Throne Stadium, 2100 Nursery Road, Minesing.
