AJ Francis will mark a decade of community food-drive work in Maryland this fall. Francis announced that his tenth annual canned food drive is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland.

The collection will take place while the venue hosts the college football matchup between Maryland and Rutgers. Fans attending the game will be able to donate canned food items at each entry gate, giving supporters a straightforward way to contribute as they arrive for the event.

All donations gathered through the drive will be directed to Sarah’s House in Fort Meade, Maryland. The organization will be the beneficiary of Francis’ tenth consecutive year organizing a canned food collection in the state.

A Decade of Food-Drive Work

Reaching a tenth annual event is a meaningful milestone for any charitable initiative, particularly one built around a recurring in-person collection. Francis’ decision to continue the drive at a major college football event gives the campaign access to a large gathering of local fans and creates an opportunity for attendees to make an immediate contribution before taking their seats.

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The location is also fitting for a Maryland-based effort. SECU Stadium sits in College Park, while the donated food will go to Sarah’s House in Fort Meade. That local focus keeps the project centered on serving people in the same broader Maryland community that has supported the drive over its previous nine editions.

The event has been set for October 17, placing it in the middle of the fall season, when canned-food collections are often especially visible. For fans headed to the Maryland-Rutgers game, bringing a donation can turn a standard game-day trip into a chance to support a local organization and the people it assists.

How Donations Will Be Collected

Francis indicated that donation points will be available at every entrance gate at SECU Stadium. That arrangement should allow fans to donate regardless of which side of the stadium they use to enter.

  • Date: Saturday, October 17
  • Location: SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland
  • Event: Maryland football versus Rutgers
  • Collection points: Each stadium entry gate
  • Beneficiary: Sarah’s House in Fort Meade, Maryland

Making contributions available at all entry points is an important practical detail. Stadium events can bring a substantial number of people through multiple gates in a short period, and placing collection opportunities throughout the venue approach gives more attendees the chance to participate without needing to seek out a separate donation area.

Those unable to attend the game are not excluded from helping. Francis also noted that people can donate directly to Sarah’s House if they cannot make the October 17 collection. That alternative broadens the reach of the drive beyond ticket holders and local football fans, while still keeping the support directed to the same Maryland organization.

Francis Brings His Platform to a Community Cause

Francis has remained visible to wrestling audiences through his work connected to TNA Wrestling, but the canned food drive is an example of a public-facing initiative extending beyond the ring. Professional wrestlers frequently build strong connections with the cities and regions where they live, perform, or maintain long-standing ties. A recurring charitable event can be one of the clearest ways to sustain that connection.

In this case, the consistency matters as much as the single-day collection. A tenth annual drive reflects a long-term commitment rather than a one-off appearance. It also gives the community a familiar event to support, with the benefit of a defined donation destination and an accessible public setting.

Francis’ announcement puts the focus on the basic purpose of the campaign: gathering food donations for Sarah’s House. The effort does not require fans to attend a wrestling event or navigate a specialized fundraiser. Instead, it meets people at a widely attended football game and asks them to bring canned goods when they enter the stadium.

That approach can make participation easier for people who may not otherwise encounter a local food collection. Football crowds include students, alumni, families, and area residents, and the collection at entry gates creates a visible reminder that charitable support can be incorporated into an existing community event.

Why the Local Recipient Matters

Sarah’s House is based in Fort Meade, Maryland, and will receive all donations from the October 17 drive. Naming a specific beneficiary provides clarity for donors: the canned goods collected at SECU Stadium are intended for one local destination rather than a broad or unspecified campaign.

For food drives, that direct connection is especially important. Donors know the items are being gathered with a clear local purpose, while the receiving organization gains support through a coordinated public collection. Francis’ annual initiative is structured around that direct relationship, with the football game serving as the setting for the community to contribute.

The College Park and Fort Meade locations also underline the regional nature of the project. Although Francis is known nationally by wrestling fans, this effort is rooted in Maryland. The tenth edition provides another opportunity for people in the area to support an organization close to home.

What Fans Can Do on October 17

Fans planning to attend Maryland versus Rutgers can participate by bringing canned food donations to SECU Stadium and dropping them off at an entry gate. Because collection points are planned for every gate, donors should be able to contribute as part of their normal arrival process.

People who are not attending the game can still support the cause by making a direct donation to Sarah’s House. That option is particularly relevant for supporters outside the immediate College Park area, as well as anyone who wants to contribute but cannot be at the stadium on October 17.

The milestone year gives the event an added sense of occasion. Ten annual drives represent ten opportunities to rally people around a basic but important need, and Francis is again using a large public event to help collect support for a Maryland organization.

As the October 17 date approaches, the central message is simple: Maryland-Rutgers attendees can bring canned goods to SECU Stadium, donate at any entrance gate, and help provide support for Sarah’s House in Fort Meade. For Francis, the collection will continue a decade-long annual commitment to organizing food donations in Maryland.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.