Year-round aid goal of ‘Bucket Brigade’

Hens, Walleye provide collection sites

Linda Greene, president of ISOH/IMPACT, and Joe Napoli, president and general manager of the Mud Hens and Walleye say their respective organizations will work together to collect disaster relief supplies in a year-round program.

Bucket Brigade disaster relief collection bins will be prominently displayed at all Fifth Field Third gates when the Toledo Mud Hens start a series of home games today.

The Hens and the Toledo Walleye announced Thursday they have officially partnered with the Bucket Brigade, a local group of disaster-relief volunteers, to help ensure that when disaster strikes, ISOH/IMPACT, a charity in Perrysburg Township, is ready to send relief supplies.

“We operate year-round, with the Mud Hens and the Walleye, and sadly, there are events nationally and internationally in which people need our help — that that’s why there’s a need for this,” said Joe Napoli, president and general manager of both the baseball and hockey teams.

The partnership has made Fifth Third Field and the Huntington Center permanent Bucket Brigade collection sites. If there has been a recent disaster, yellow bins will be located at every gate; at other times, a bin will be less prominently displayed at guest services and in a designated area.

Linda Greene, president and chief executive of ISOH/IMPACT, said she is so excited about the partnership because it will help ISOH/IMPACT maintain its supplies for local, national, and international disasters. Although the bins' official purpose will be for collecting nonperishable foods, clean-up supplies, and personal, baby, and pet-care items, Ms. Greene also asked the community to leave supportive notes for disaster victims expressing sympathy toward their circumstances.

“We’ve already sent down 3½ shipments to the victims of the recent tornadoes, but I know we have a lot of bad weather coming this way and we always have to stay on guard and ready to respond. And this community does this,” she said.

Even without an immediate disaster, Ms. Greene said there is still plenty of need. Mud Hens and Walleye officials said the teams will use social media to communicate with fans and remind them that the ballpark and ice rink are permanent Bucket Brigade collection sites.

In May, 2010, the Bucket Brigade began its relationship with the Toledo Mud Hens and the Toledo Walleye to provide disaster relief for victims of the severe Joplin, Mo., tornado.

Contact Danielle Trubow at: dtrubow@theblade.com or 419-724-6129.