CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri's Department of Athletics is again teaming up to Sack Hunger this upcoming 2023 football season. SEMO is partnering with the Southeast Missouri Food Bank, Sikeston Jaycees, First Midwest Bank and Midwest Sterilization to provide meals to families facing hunger in the southeast Missouri region.

For every quarterback sack against opposing teams this year, Sikeston Jaycees, First Midwest Bank and Midwest Sterilization will each donate $100 to the Southeast Missouri Food Bank. Every $1 donated to the Southeast Missouri Food Bank provides four meals meaning each Redhawk sack will supply 1,200 meals to families facing hunger. During the 2022 campaign, SEMO recorded 28 sacks which raised $8,400 for the Southeast Missouri Food Bank.

"This partnership is a win-win for our community and sponsors," said SEMO Senior Associate Director of Athletics for External Operations Nate Saverino. "We are excited to join the Southeast Missouri Food Bank and our generous partners in the fight against hunger all across this great region we proudly serve."

"We are excited to partner again with SEMO Athletics and the Redhawk football team for the Sack Hunger campaign," added Chief Executive Officer of Southeast Missouri Food Bank Joey Keys. "We hope this effort will remind people that many of our neighbors across the region live in homes without enough food. With every sack by the SEMO defense, our generous sponsors will help the food bank provide 1,200 meals to families, children and seniors who don't have enough to eat."

River Radio, the official radio broadcast partner of SEMO Athletics, will also support the campaign by airing public service announcements during Redhawk football broadcasts throughout the 2023 season.
Fans who wish to join the Redhawks in the fight against hunger can donate to the Southeast Missouri Food Bank at SEMOFoodBank.org.

About Southeast Missouri Food Bank
Southeast Missouri Food Bank provides food to 140 food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in 16 southeast Missouri counties. They include Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, and Wayne counties. The food bank also provides mobile food distributions, monthly boxes of food to eligible seniors and weekend backpacks of food to 1,200 students in 30 school districts. The mission of Southeast Missouri Food Bank is to end hunger and leverage the power of food to build a healthy community. The food bank is affiliated with Feeding America, the nation's largest food bank network, and has received the highest possible rating from Charity Navigator, attesting to its adherence to best practices. Those interested in helping can do so by making a tax-deductible contribution, donating food or volunteering. Visit SEMOFoodBank.org for more information.
 
About Sikeston Jaycees
The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo has been a tradition in Sikeston, Missouri for over 70 years. Every year, the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo brings over 500 top PRCA cowboys and cowgirls to Southeast Missouri and brings top-tier musical acts every year. The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo donates over $125,000 annually to the surrounding areas to numerous organizations. Attending the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo truly gives back to others in need. The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo has been nationally recognized as a Top 40 Outdoor Rodeo in the country. In 2021, the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo was recognized as the Great Lake Circuit Rodeo of the Year. The Great Lake Circuit covers Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin PRCA rodeos. The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Committee prides itself for being the largest volunteer-only rodeo in the nation.

About First Midwest Bank
First Midwest Bank is a family-owned community bank headquartered in Southeast Missouri. For nearly 60 years, First Midwest has met the financial needs of consumers and businesses with an extensive suite of banking products and services. Our belief in serving customers with midwestern values has led to steady local growth, long-standing customer relationships, and the ability to make meaningful investments in the communities we call home. Together with its affiliate, the First Midwest Bank group has assets of over $1.2 billion and operates 19 locations throughout Missouri, including Poplar Bluff, Dexter, Cape Girardeau, Columbia and Springfield. For more information, visit www.onemidwest.com. 

About Midwest Sterilization
Midwest Sterilization Corporation, located in Jackson, MO sterilizes medical devices for device manufacturers. Device sterilization is a critical part of the device manufacturing process and is essential to keeping patients safe from pathogens. MSC provides sterilization for more than 40 percent of the nation's sterile procedure trays, representing every two out of five surgeries in the United States. MSC remains strongly committed to improving patient health and safeguarding lives. This includes ensuring that public health and safety precautions extend not only to our employees, medical patients, but also to the neighbors and families in the communities where we live and work.