Sunday marked the start of a donation drive supporting the Jefferson County Schools Tigers Football team. Pastor at Restore Glory Christian Center, Eddie Yon, tells me he decided to set up a table outside his center for neighbors to donate what they can. Watch the video above for a closer look at the donation drive.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

Putting food on the table.. the Tiger Table that is.

Sunday marked the start of a donation drive supporting the Jefferson County Schools Tigers Football team thats 32 bellies that need help staying full.

Eddie Yon, Pastor of Restore Glory Christian Center – Well the coach came to me and asked me to be the Team Chaplain and I asked him well what do you need and the first thing he said was food.

Pastor at Restore Glory Christian Center, Eddie Yon, tells me he decided to set up a table outside his center for neighbors to donate what they can.

Yon – You know things like fruit, breakfast bars, granola bars, crackers with peanut butter and cheese

Shaundra Buggs, Assistant Athletic Director at Jefferson County Schools – The kids are stronger this year because we also have incorporated a weight lifting program.

Assistant Athletic Director Shaundra Buggs tells me a long day of school and practice means its a challenge to keep these young athletes energized.. and inflation isnt helping.

Buggs – With two parents that are actively in their lives, its still a struggle. Things are going up as far as the cost of food.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the food-at-home consumer price index increased 0.3% from June to July and was 1.1% higher than it was last year.

Buggs – The school does their share, the parents do their share, the coaches do their share and so were asking the community to come out and do their share as well.

I caught neighbor Otis Norton in the middle of doing just that.

Otis Norton, Neighbor – I brought gatorades, I brought some snacks for the kids of the football team.

He tells me inflation is hard on everyone but it wont stop him from supporting an initiative like this.

Norton – Everybody needs some help sometimes and their coach is trying to do a good thing and them kids theyre grinding. So, anything I can do to help them, Im going to do that.

Buggs – When they feel better, when theyre fed, when theyre uniform, when they look alike that Tiger pride is back.

And Sundays turnout is a clear sign that Tiger pride is here to stay, with the help of the community.

Yon – I believe weve got enough to get them through maybe the first week, but it doesnt stop this week so we need that continuous support!