GORHAM, ME (April 6, 2023) –  University of Southern Maine students in the BUS 300 Entrepreneurial Thinking class and Huskies’ Athletics will be hosting Husky Helper Food & Hygiene Product Drives throughout the month of April at select Husky home games. Drives will be held at Saturday’s men’s lacrosse game, the men’s lacrosse game on Saturday, April 15, the baseball and softball games on Saturday, April 22 and the baseball game on Monday, April 24. The two lacrosse games will start at 1 pm, baseball will play at noon and 3 pm on the 22nd with softball playing at 1 pm and 3 pm and the baseball game on Monday, April 24 will start at 7 pm.

As part of a class project, USM students Ryan Gregory (Accounting major), Pat Geary (Sport Management major), Hannah Smith (Business Management major), Meylinde Cortes (Accounting major) and Nicole Nappi (Business Management major) previously coordinated and hosted a successful drive in February at the Huskies’ basketball doubleheader and hope to continue the success with the upcoming drives.

“In February we were able to raise a solid amount of money and collect a lot of food items to give back to the community. We want to thank USM Athletics, staff, and fans for helping us run a successful raffle for a great cause,” said Geary. “Husky Helpers and the BUS 300 class also wants to thank Al Bean and Christina Cracolici personally for all the time and effort they have put in to help our group.”

Husky friends and fans are asked to bring non-perishable food items and hygiene products for donation.  Donated items will be given to the USM Food Pantry and Preble Street Resource Center.

Tasked with finding a local or regional issue and addressing that issue using an entrepreneurial mindset – with the end goal being to add value while making a social impact – the group members landed on food insecurity and homelessness.

In addition to the food and hygiene product drive, Husky Helpers will also be raffling off Southern Maine apparel with proceeds going to both the USM Food Pantry and Preble Street Resource Center. Raffle tickets are $1 per one entry, $5 for 10 entries.

Remember, bring your donation items to one of the games to help support a good cause and cheer on the Huskies.