Several members of the team signed up to support a local food bank. The shirts sold raise awareness and dollars, and hopefully spur others to action.

The full article can be found at http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=10762, with an excerpt provided below.

(Excerpt)

FENWAY PARK — Fighting hunger has a new name, or names, to be exact: Lowell, Pedroia, Ortiz, Papelbon and Beckett.

Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell, second baseman Dustin Pedroia, pitchers Jonathan Papelbon and Josh Beckett and designated hitter David Ortiz have joined forces in order to combat hunger at the Cor Unum Meal Center run by St. Patrick Parish in Lawrence.

At a media availability in Fenway Park August 24 to launch the “Hit for Hunger” tee shirt campaign, several of the players showed off the new shirts, which are sold for $20 both online at www.labelsareforjars.org and at select Newbury Comics retail stores.

“We hope that these shirts not only help to raise awareness of the problem of hunger, but also raise money in order to help the Cor Unum Meal Center,” said Lowell.

According to Lowell, he first became aware of the poverty in Lawrence through fellow Sox player Sean Casey.

A long-time friend of Father Paul O’Brien who is the pastor of St. Patrick’s and the founder of the meal center, Casey has been a supporter of Cor Unum since its early days. He played for the Red Sox during the 2008 season.

“Casey opened the door for us,” Lowell said. “Once you see the problem, we are only too happy to be able to help.”  (The article continues at http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=10762)