RALEIGH - Wool E. Bull and fellow mascot Sharky ran around the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina on Saturday to draw some laughs, but they were also there to bring attention to the serious problem of childhood hunger.

Wool E. Bull of the Durham Bulls and Sharky of the Wilmington Sharks helped unveil the new logos for the Food Bank's child nutrition programs that serve thousands of youngsters from the Triangle to Wilmington. The repeated message on Saturday was that many more children need help and that it's only possible if the public helps with donations.

"Children shouldn't have to worry about when they will have their next meal," said Earline Middleton, vice president of agency services and programs for the Food Bank.

More than 28 percent of North Carolina households answered there have been times in the past year they haven't had enough money to buy food, according to the study, Food Hardship in America 2010. In the Food Bank's 34-county service area, 34 percent of the more than 500,000 individuals who are at risk of hunger are children.

Officials from the Food Bank say that they're trying to address the problem with their Kids Meals & More programs that provide food on school days, weekends and in the summer.

At the Kids Cafe program, more than 1,500 children at 25 sites receive meals, nutrition information, mentoring and tutoring. Gideon Adams, the Food Bank's outreach, programs and evaluation manager, said they'd like to expand to 30 to 35 sites.

In the weekend Power Pack program, volunteers fill backpacks with food that's given to children so they'll have enough to eat over the weekend. In 2010, the program provided 141,550 backpacks.

"It's really hard for children to focus on learning when their stomachs are growling," said Louella Rutledge of Walnut Grove United Methodist Church in Hurdle Mills, which provides backpacks for students at three Orange County schools.

Rutledge said that so many students can use the backpacks that social workers are focusing on the children most in need.

Over the summer, the Food Bank's renamed Kids Summer Meals program provides low-income children with free breakfasts and lunches to cover the period during summer vacation when they don't have access to school meals. The program served more than 85,000 meals last year.

Middleton said that while people talk about childhood obesity in North Carolina, they shouldn't also forget the many children who get don't enough food.

"Hunger is no longer just the person standing on the side of the road holding up a sign," she said. "It could be the child next to you at school."

Help the Sharks provide homes for Canines!

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Make a donation for every strikeout recorded by a Sharks pitcher at home or make a one-time donation.

All of the money received goes to the Paws Place Dog Rescue. Paws Place is a privately run, non-profit dog rescue facility in Brunswick County. Founder Nancy Janovetz established Paws Place in April of 1999. In June of that year, Paw’s Place, Inc. purchased a five-acre tract of land in Boiling Spring Lakes. Nancy then designed the dog kennels and layout paying special attention to the needs of the dogs’ comfort, safety and proper hygiene.

With the help of volunteers, 42 covered kennels were completed in 90 days. The shelter had its first occupants before it was totally completed. Since its inception, we have found permanent homes for over 1000 dogs. Paws Place serves Wilmington, Brunswick County and surrounding communities. (Paw’s Place, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation. FEIN is 56-214059)

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The Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League (CPL) announced they are bringing back five pitchers from last year’s playoff team.  Mat Batts, Tyler DeLoach, Tommy Houmard, Stephen Vaughn, and Ross Whitley.

A redshirt sophomore at UNCW, Batts returns to the Sharks in 2012 for his second season in the CPL.  Batts had a tremendous 2011 campaign for the Sharks finishing third in the league with a 1.89 ERA.  On the season Batts threw two complete games, while starting nine games.  In 62 innings of action, Batts struck out 54 batters while only walking 15.  Batts a native of Winston-Salem, NC is set to begin his first season with UNCW after transferring from Western Carolina in 2011.

DeLoach, a 6’6” lefty from UNCW makes his way back to the Sharks in 2012 after joining the club late in the season last year.  DeLoach in 2011 appeared in nine games, while also starting one game.  Overall DeLoach finished the season with a 3.93 ERA in 18.1 innings of work.  Born and raised in Rocky Mount, NC, DeLoach played his high school ball at Roanoke Rapids.

Currently a sophomore at UNC Asheville, Houmard will return to the Sharks pitching staff this summer.  In 2011 with the Sharks, Houmard finished with a 1-1 record in 11 appearances.  Houmard worked 28.1 innings prior to going down with a shoulder injury.  In those 28.1 innings, he struck out 16 batters.  A native of Greenville, NC, Houmard attended JH Rose High School, where he lettered in cross country, soccer and swimming, in addition to being an All-conference baseball player both his junior and senior seasons.

Vaughn, a former New Hanover High School standout returns to the Sharks in 2012.  In 11 appearances, starting eight games, Vaughn finished with a 3-2 record and a 3.71 ERA.  Vaughn struck out 24 hitters in 53.1 innings of action in his first season of summer collegiate baseball.  A sophomore at Wingate University, Vaughn was born and raised in Wilmington.

The 6’3” righty, Whitley will return as the Sharks closer in 2012.  Whitley saved nine games last season for the Sharks, leading the team in that category.  Overall, Whitley finished with a 2.15 ERA to go along with a 5-2 record in 24 outings.  In 37.1 innings Whitley fanned 50 batters, walked 13 and held the opposition to a .196 average.  A native of Mooresville, NC, Whitley attended Lake Norman High School.

The Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League (CPL) announced they have signed three players from their 2011 ball club that advanced to the second round of the CPL Playoffs.  Infielders: Alex Freedman, Justyn Carter, and Jake Mayers.

Alex Freedman            Justyn Carter                   Jake Mayers          
Second Baseman              Shortstop                      Third Baseman           

Freedman a redshirt freshman returns to Wilmington this summer, marking his second season of collegiate summer baseball.  In 2011 with the Sharks, Freedman started all 52 games, hitting for an average of .280.  Freedman was fourth on the team with seven doubles, while driving in 23 runs on the season.

A two-time CPL All-star, Carter returns to the Sharks after a successful season last summer.  Carter led the team with a .294 average and runs scored with 43.  Carter led the Sharks with 23 stolen bases in 27 attempts.

A junior at the University of Richmond, Mayers a 2011 CPL All-star makes his way back to Wilmington and the Sharks in 2012.  During the course of the 2011 season Mayers was a big part of the ball club not only offensively, but also as a pitcher.  Mayers, hit for a .286 average to go along with finishing third on the team with two home runs.  As pitcher, Mayers started seven games, going 2-3 with a 3.95 ERA over 43.1 innings of work.

The cool weather is upon us and the “Shark Tank” has begun its winter nap. Don't let that fool you - May 29^th will be here before you know it and that means another exciting summer of Wilmington Sharks Baseball!

The Sharks organization is hard at work putting together a promotional schedule that is second to none for 2012.  Highlighted by post-game fireworks extravaganza presented by Taco Bell, ten (10) Thirsty Thursday’s, a UNCW alumni exhibition game and the 2nd annual McDonalds McJersey McAuction night to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.

Sharks fans will also be able to see some familiar faces on the field this summer, led by returning coach Ryan McCleney. McCleney served as an assistant coach last season, but makes his return this season at the helm. Stay tuned as the Sharks will be announcing player signings in the coming weeks.

It’s never too early to purchase season tickets or become part of the Sharks organization by becoming a host family and welcoming a player or two into your home.

Follow the Wilmington Sharks all offseason long at www.wilmingtonsharks.com and be sure to friend the Sharks on Facebook for all the latest news and roster additions.