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Shorebirds lend a hand at Thanksgiving

November 21, 2012
SALISBURY, Md. -- The Delmarva Shorebirds, the Class A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, made a donation of $3,000 to the Mountaire Farms Thanksgiving for Thousands program on Monday.

The money was donated through the Shorebirds Community Fund.

In its 18th year, Mountaire Farms Thanksgiving for Thousands feeds more than 45,000 people along the Eastern Shore during the holiday season. Mountaire Farms started Thanksgiving for Thousands with the goal of providing a means to prepare a Thanksgiving meal from the privacy of the home. On Monday, Shorebirds staff members joined hundreds of local volunteers in packing more than 7,000 meal boxes with chicken, corn, cranberry sauce, yams, turkey gravy and more at the Mountaire Farms plant in Selbyville, Del.

"We have a tremendous relationship with Mountaire Farms and we are honored to help offset part of the cost of the program through our donation," Shorebirds general manager Chris Bitters said. "The Shorebirds Community Fund was designed to help programs like Thanksgiving for Thousands that will make a difference in our community."

The Shorebirds Community Fund was formed in 2009 with the mission of assisting local community projects through monetary donations. Since its inception, the Shorebirds Community Fund has made countless donations to Little League organizations, charitable foundations, schools, hospitals and other programs locally on Delmarva.

"I am thankful for a partnership to feed thousands of hungry and hurting on Delmarva this Thanksgiving," said Mountaire Farms community relations director Roger Marino. "For a number of the 18 years since we began the Mountaire Thanksgiving for Thousands program, we have worked closely with the management and staff at the Shorebirds to pack boxes and develop stadium fundraisers for Thanksgiving for Thousands. With the help of Shorebirds volunteers, we have succeeded to feed more than 45,000 Delmarva citizens in need of a nourishing meal on this important American holiday.

"Our blessings to those Shorebirds who supply the community with family entertainment and joy in the summer and continue donating their resources to a tremendous public service bringing hope and nourishment to many throughout the off season."