Players, staffers lend a hand at Foodbank

11.24.2009

The Browns spend a lot of Tuesday afternoons giving back to the community, but the timing of Tuesday's pre-Thanksgiving event at the Cleveland Foodbank couldn't have been better.

Browns players and dozens of staff volunteers helped prepare hot meals for Thanksgiving, and lent a hand preparing items for shipment to local shelters, food pantries and hot meal sites supported by the Cleveland Foodbank.

Players also collectively donated funds to help purchasemore than 1,700 turkeys for families this year in time to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.

"We had several players seek us out - instead of the other way around - and offer to help," said Jenner Tekancic, Browns community relations manager. "The guys are very anxious to pitch in and we're proud to come out here today and help in all the ways we can. I know the Foodbank appreciates the checks our players wrote and the guys who came out on their day off to help."

Players on hand Tuesday included Brady Quinn, Mike Furrey, Blake Costanzo, Ray Ventrone, Nick Sorensen and Brian Robiskie, who brought along his younger brothers who are in town for the holiday.

"It's always nice to give back, but especially right now," Robiskie said. "My brothers are going to help. I know my teammates were here helping before I was and it's good to know that in a time of a need we can do our part."

"We're fortunate, and we take the chance to give back seriously," Sorensen said. "I think we make it fun coming out here and we don't lose sight of the fact that giving just a couple hours helps people who need it. I came out last year for the same thing and I'm glad to be back."

The Cleveland Foodbank supplies a majority of the food used in local shelters, food pantries and hot meal sites including child care centers, group homes, and programs for the elderly. The Foodbank works closely with other Northeast Ohio hunger relief organizations, providing food and nonfood products to hunger centers administered by the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland, the Catholic Hunger and Shelter Network, and the Salvation Army, among others.