Princeton Rays Players Bag Groceries for Charity

This summer, for the second consecutive year, the Princeton Rays teamed up with local Grant's Supermarket locations to collect non-perishable canned food goods for those in need. And, like the year before, the two-day event was termed as a success.

Thursday, July 11, saw a pair of three-player "teams" of P-Rays' players both hand out flyers requesting food donations from store shoppers as well as bag their groceries at the Grant's stores in both Green Valley and Glenwood from 10:00 a.m. to noon. It was a great collection effort as store patrons bought extra canned goods while they shopped to be donated as well making monetary donations that would be used to buy more canned goods for donation.

All cans collected in connection to the event were in turn donated to Tender Mercies Food Pantry to assist those in need, but Thursday was only the beginning.

On Friday, July 12, the campaign was moved to Grant's two main locations in Princeton: on East Main Street and the Crossroads. Once again, two trios of P-Rays players stepped up with a superior two-hour effort at each store and the day ended with multiple loaded grocery carts at each store that would be later be loaded and shipped to the Tender Mercies central location.

Players for the Princeton Rays that participated over the course of this two day event were Oscar Armenta, Coty Blanchard, Luis Cabrera, Clayton Crum, Spencer Edwards, Johnny Eierman, Jacob Faria, Travis Flores, David Garcia, Isaac Gil, Bralin Jackson, and D.J. Slaton.

Three members of the Princeton Rays top-notch intern staff, Brad Layton, Matt Mistretta, and Tyler Zimm, also pitched in with their assistance.

Friday's collection of canned goods then carried on into the evening as the P-Rays' July 12 home game versus the Greeneville Astros was designated as "Grant's Night," in which any fan donating two non-perishable canned food good items was admitted to that night's game absolutely free, courtesy of Grant's Supermarket.

In the end, between the two store events and "Grant's Night," a large amount of non-perishable, canned food items were rerouted from the shelves of Grant's Supermarket to the shelves of Tender Mercies Food Pantry.

"This has quickly developed into one of our team's very favorite community service events that we do. Our players really get into this event and give it their very best effort. By seeing the donated cans stack up, it lets them see that they are making a positive difference for such a worthy cause. We are very honored to be partnered with the great management team at Grant's, who all have been great to work with and share our enthusiasm for this event," concluded Princeton Rays' General Manager Jim Holland.