Turnover Hunger Provides Meals for Students in Need, Philanthropic Experience for Players

There is still time to donate to the cause this football season.

Milan Cheerleaders support Turnover Hunger. Ripley County Community Foundation Photo.

(Ripley County, Ind.) – The high school football regular season is coming to an end, but there is still plenty of time to donate to the Turnover Hunger program.

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 force in their games during the 2023 season.

With Milan and Batesville both eyeing deep playoff runs, both teams hope to have several more weeks to create some turnovers on defense. 

To participate, you may pledge a dollar amount for every turnover forced, or you may make a flat donation in support of each team’s effort. At the end of the season, all pledges will be collected and donations 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 the Weekend Back Sack Program which provides elementary school students who suffer from severe food insecurity with a backpack of kid-friendly, nonperishable food for the weekend.

This season, Batesville and Milan have combined to force 27 turnovers, 12 for the Bulldogs and 15 for the Indians. 

As of the last update from the Ripley County Community Foundation, over $3,500 has been raised. That will provide 100 students meals for one weekend. 

Donating $20 provides a student with enough food for an entire weekend. With over 600 students needing this support, your donation will make a huge difference in a local child's life

Batesville head coach Evan Ulery finds that the program has helped raise awareness among his players while instilling a value and desire to give back to the community.

“The growth from raising around $1,500 year one to about $15,000 each of the past two years is amazing,” Ulery continued. “These efforts have not just impacted Batesville kids, but multiple school districts in the area. So, for our programs to not only help within our community, but plenty of other communities is a great precedent to set.”

Milan head coach Ryan Langferman echoed a similar sentiment.

“The Turnover Hunger program is a win-win for our football program. We always strive to create turnovers on defense and with this program we can also take pride in knowing that we are making a difference by providing a service to our local community and creating a valuable philanthropic experience for our players,” said Milan head coach Ryan Langferman.

As of the last update from the Ripley County Community Foundation, over $3,500 has been raised. That will provide 100 students meals for one weekend. 

Donating $20 provides a student with enough food for an entire weekend. With over 600 students needing this support, your donation will make a huge difference in a local child's life

“South Ripley Elementary’s Weekend BackSack program was made possible by the Turnover Hunger grant through the Ripley County Community Foundation. This program made it possible for 42 of our most vulnerable students to have access to food on the weekends. These students would typically go hungry for either all or part of the weekend. The generous donations from the Turnover Hunger program met one of the basic needs of these children, and they were able to eat and be ready to learn on Monday morning, instead of coming to school hungry,” said Ryan Lauber, South Ripley Elementary School Principal. 

To learn more about the Turnover Hunger program and to donate, click here