Giants’ star Hunter Pence steps up to the plate for COVID-19 relief
We rode every Muni bus in one day. We traversed the entire 49 Mile Scenic Drive without a car. We’ve hosted movie nights featuring a bagpiper and cable car bell ringer, and half of our partnership (that would be me) has traversed the oh-so-high horizontal catwalks of Sutro Tower.
Chronicle pop culture critic Peter Hartlaub and I are continuously seeking to highlight the wonder and whimsy of San Francisco in our #TotalSF pairing, and we couldn’t be happier about the latest news.
Giants outfielder Hunter Pence — who embodies the #TotalSF spirit of goofiness and enthusiasm — and his wife, Lexi Pence, have their own coffee line, Pineapple Labs. Each month, they release a new specialty coffee paired with an exclusive mug, and proceeds go to charity.
Their June coffee (with notes of dried apricot and vanilla) and mug (Giants themed, naturally) will be on sale throughout the month at thepineapplelabs.com. All proceeds from the package, called Forever Grateful, will benefit The Chronicle’s Season of Sharing fund to assist Bay Area residents suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This charity encompasses everything,” said Lexi Pence, saying she likes that anyone with a particular need — such as help paying a month’s rent or fixing their car — can get it.
“We’re super happy to partner with you guys,” Hunter Pence said. “We need this right now.”
The Pences have been holing up in Arizona, where Hunter Pence was supposed to start spring training with the Giants after returning to the team in February. He was a key part of the team’s World Series wins in 2012 and 2014, and his inspirational locker room speeches were the stuff of legend. He played the 2019 season with the Texas Rangers before rejoining the Giants.
The Pences said they’re excited to hopefully move back to San Francisco soon; Mayor London Breed has announced pro sports can start up again June 15, but without fans.
“We haven’t done enough of the touristy stuff in San Francisco,” Hunter Pence said, saying it’s all baseball, all the time when he’s in the city.
We can certainly help with that, sir. Go Giants!
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @hknightsf
About the fund
For the past 34 years, The Chronicle’s Season of Sharing Fund has helped more than 160,000 Bay Area individuals and families facing unexpected life crises to stay in their homes and keep food on the table until they can get back on their feet. The idea of neighbors helping neighbors was introduced to The Chronicle in 1986 by the late Walter A. Haas Jr. and Ira Hirschfield, then-president of the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund. Since then, the Season of Sharing Fund has distributed nearly $149 million to help those living in the Bay Area, including $4 million expedited as a rapid response to assist those affected by COVID-19.
Each year, the fund provides one-time assistance to about 4,500 individuals and families, allocating most of its grants for housing needs as well as paying for other critical necessities such as wheelchairs or essential furniture. Grants are paid directly to the suppliers of services, such as landlords. Individuals do not receive direct grants from the Season of Sharing Fund.
The fund, which also distributes more than $1 million each year to local food banks, relies on donations from readers. The money is distributed year-round.
Every penny of your donation goes to help those who need it most. All expenses are covered by the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund and The Chronicle. We are proud to say that since the fund’s inception, 100% of the money raised has gone directly to help the families and communities we serve.
Donate at www.seasonofsharing.org.
The Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund helps our neighbors in crisis stay in their homes and keep food on the table until they can get back on their feet again. Typically, funds raised during the holidays are disbursed year-round. When it became clear that the pandemic was creating unprecedented need, in order not to turn away qualified applicants, the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund launched a COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund. One hundred percent of your donations go to assisting Bay Area residents who have been badly affected by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. To contribute, visit www.seasonofsharing.org
