The Delmarva Shorebirds and Perdue Farms’ 2026 Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge generated a record 1,524,407 meal equivalents for food banks across the Delmarva Peninsula.
The total marks the fifteenth year of the partnership between Perdue Farms, the Delmarva Shorebirds and regional food bank partners. Since 2011, the partnership has generated more than 5.3 million meals for neighbors facing food insecurity, while the 2026 total surpassed the 2025 figure by more than 29,000 meal equivalents.
How the Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge Worked
Perdue Farms provided a $15,000 challenge grant through the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms. The grant benefited the Maryland Food Bank, the Food Bank of Delaware and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.
Each food bank worked throughout the baseball season to generate the equivalent of at least 10,000 meals through food donations, financial contributions and volunteer hours. Those efforts allowed the food banks to earn a share of the grant.
Perdue Farms also contributed $10 for every strikeout recorded by a Delmarva Shorebirds pitcher during the season, up to $5,000. The challenge coincides with the beginning of Hunger Action Month and is part of Perdue’s Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors® outreach.
Partners Continue Fifteen-Year Effort
Jimmy Sweet, assistant general manager of the Delmarva Shorebirds, said the initiative reflects the Eastern Shore community’s continued support for neighbors facing food insecurity.
“The Strike Out Hunger Challenge holds a special place in my heart because year after year, we see this community step up to help its neighbors,” Sweet said. “Fifteen years of support says a lot about the people who call the Eastern Shore home, and we’re proud to continue this tradition alongside Perdue and our regional food bank partners.”
Christopher Tan, president and CEO of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, emphasized the initiative’s importance for children, families and seniors across the Delmarva Peninsula.
“At the heart of the Strike Out Hunger Challenge are the children, families and seniors across the Delmarva Peninsula who need help putting food on the table,” Tan said. “Perdue’s generosity helps ensure that our neighbors throughout Delaware, Maryland and Virginia have access to nutritious food when they need it most. We are deeply grateful for Perdue’s longstanding partnership and its unwavering commitment to the communities we serve.”
Bill See, senior manager of community relations for Perdue Farms, said the record total reflects the impact of the long-running partnership.
“Fifteen years into this partnership, we continue to be inspired by the way the Delmarva community shows up for its neighbors,” See said. “Reaching a record 1.5 million meal equivalents is something we’re proud of, but what matters most is what those meals mean for children, families and seniors in our communities. We’re grateful to the Shorebirds, our food bank partners and everyone who helped make this year’s challenge our strongest yet.”
Maryland Sports Blog Take
The Delmarva Shorebirds’ Perdue Strike Out Hunger Challenge generated a record 1,524,407 meal equivalents for food banks across the Delmarva Peninsula. The result extends a partnership that has generated more than 5.3 million meals since 2011.
The challenge combines food donations, financial contributions and volunteer hours with Perdue Farms’ grant and strikeout-based contributions to support the Maryland Food Bank, the Food Bank of Delaware and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.
Source: Original report
