Batesville, Milan Football Teams Force Turnovers to Help Food Insecure Children

A check for $5,000 was distributed to the Weekend Backsack Program on Tuesday.

Milan and Batesville varsity football programs joined teams to raise thousands of dollars for the Weekend Backsack Program. Photo by the Ripley County Community Foundation. 

(Ripley County, Ind.) - Batesville and Milan football teams joined forces again in 2023 to help raise funds for food insecure students in Ripley County. 

Turnover Hunger is a program supported by the Ripley County Community Foundation that accepts donations or pledges for every turnover that the Milan and/or Batesville varsity football teams forced in their games during the 2023 season.

This season, the two teams combined to force 53 turnovers, resulting in $5,000 being distributed to the Weekend Backsack Program.

All the money collected will be granted to Batesville Primary School, Jac-Cen-Del Elementary School, Milan Elementary School, South Ripley Elementary School, and Sunman Elementary School. The grant dollars are used to support students who suffer from severe food insecurity with a backpack of kid-friendly, nonperishable food for the weekend.

The money raised this season is going enough to provide meals to over 250 hungry students this semester.

In Ripley County, The Weekend Backpack Program relies solely upon charitable donations and is one reason why Coaches Evan Ulery and Ryan Langferman have devoted the 2023 football season and past seasons to Turnover Hunger.

To learn more about the Turnover Hunger Program, visit https://rccfonline.org/turnover-hunger-is-back/.