The Indiana Pacers are turning long-range shots into local relief.
The Pacers Foundation’s “Drive & Dish” initiative announced a new partnership today with Kroger, MPS Egg Farms, and HATCH for Hunger to donate more than 100,000 eggs to food-insecure Hoosiers throughout the state.
Scoring for a Cause
The donation program, which tips off during tonight’s home game against the Houston Rockets, ties on-court performance directly to community impact. For every 3-pointer the Pacers sink at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the rest of the season, the partners will donate three cases of eggs (totaling 1,620 eggs per shot).
By the season’s end, the initiative expects to provide roughly 9,000 dozen eggs to families in need.
“This initiative will help feed thousands of Hoosiers, and that’s a powerful way we can make an impact beyond the game,” said Corey Wilson, PS&E’s SVP of Community Engagement.
A Team Effort
The program expands the existing Drive & Dish initiative, a project led by the Pacers Foundation and Head Coach Rick Carlisle. The partnership brings together various sectors of the Indiana food system:
- Kroger: A long-time Pacers partner, the retailer is expanding its hunger-relief efforts to help provide essential protein.
- MPS Egg Farms: A sixth-generation Indiana-based company, MPS will act as the primary supplier for the donated eggs.
- HATCH for Hunger: The nonprofit will manage the logistics, ensuring the protein-rich food moves efficiently from producers to local food banks.
“Coach Carlisle created an awesome way to help struggling families put nutritious food on the table,” said Kroger Division President Colleen Juergensen. “Now, with MPS Eggs and HATCH, Kroger will help the Coach put more essential protein into the meals the families prepare.”
With the Pacers currently fighting for playoff positioning, every bucket from behind the arc now carries extra weight for families across central Indiana.
