Teens teamed up to collect fresh produce for Greenwich families through an online platform during the 2016 football season.

GREENWICH, Conn., Wednesday, December 7, 2016 — The Greenwich Jr United Way (GJrUW) partnered with the Greenwich Youth Football League (GYFL) and Cheerleading (GYCL) organizations to virtually collect healthy food options and fresh produce for Neighbor to Neighbor during the 2016 GYFL season. The food drive was designed to allow fans to support their neighborhood team when making a healthy food donation online through the Amp Your Good (AMP) website (ampyourgood.com).

“This has been a fantastic joint venture by the Greenwich Jr United Way and Greenwich Football/Cheerleading organizations. As it stands this food drive has Neighbor to Neighbor covered for approximately 2 months worth of fresh produce which is unbelievable” said Duncan Lawson, Operations Coordinator at Neighbor to Neighbor.

AMP was founded based upon the idea of using technology to make helping out easier to do, more social and more efficient. The website was created to amplify the good in everyone by enabling their good intentions to have the greatest impact. The GYFL season ended with a series of award dinners in late November that concluded the drive with teams reaching the following amounts of pounds donated; Cos Cob Crushers (721 lbs), Riverside Gators (714 lbs), Putnam Generals (469 lbs),  Glenville Mavericks (459 lbs), North Mianus Bulldogs (110 lbs) and BANC Raiders (38 lbs).

“We talk a lot about how we are more than a team, we are family”, said Pat Bria, President of the Cos Cob Crushers organization. He continued, “The Greenwich Youth Football League Fan Food Drive presented by Greenwich Jr United Way was an obvious way for us to unite as a team, to help local families who are in need. We are thrilled and proud to have been the lead blockers for a generous cause.” Bria will be presented with a plaque in honor of the team’s off-field win by Greenwich Jr United Way later this month.

The Greenwich Jr United Way hopes to turn the food drive collaboration into an annual event to benefit Neighbor to Neighbor said Emily Zerbst, Jr United Way Program Coordinator at Greenwich United Way. She explained in a letter to all who participated at GYFL and GYCL, “Our teens at the Greenwich Jr United Way would like to make sure that this ‘Greenwich Youth Football League Fan Food Drive presented by Greenwich Jr United Way’ continues for years to come, or as long as there is a need to feed hungry families in our community”.

For more information on GJrUW projects to meet local human service needs please visit the Greenwich United Way website (www.greenwichunitedway.org). ;

About Greenwich Jr United Way:

The Greenwich Jr United Way was created by teens to enable teens to get involved in solving problems in their local community. Led by and for young people under the guidance of adults, teens choose focus areas, develop their own ideas and make a measurable difference. All middle school and high school students in the Town of Greenwich are eligible to volunteer.

2015/16 Club Members; Olivia Jones (President), Jayla Faison, Bethany Johnson, Nick Glass, Jackson Magann, Maya Hurst and Naureen Kurji

About Greenwich United Way:

The Greenwich United Way shares a name with approximately 1,400 other similar organizations across the nation, although the Greenwich, Connecticut division is a privately incorporated, locally governed, nonprofit agency. As a volunteer driven organization, the Greenwich United Way exists to help identify and address the human service needs specific to its local community and to create and affect meaningful solutions. Through various fundraising efforts, the organization is able to directly allocate the funds necessary to accomplish this goal. The Greenwich United Way also invests in and conducts collaborative efforts to address broad based community needs with partnering nonprofit agencies.