Food Pantry In Ellington To Be Aided By Local Baseball Standout's Fans

ELLINGTON, CT — With the holidays rapidly approaching, an Ellington resident and avid supporter of Frank Mozzicato - the town's young professional baseball player - has created a special way to benefit a local hunger relief agency.

Russ Binkowski, who created the Frank's Fans Facebook group in late spring to track the progress of the left-handed pitcher, is offering more than a dozen prizes to group members who contribute to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. Located at the Community United Methodist Church at 278 Sandy Beach Road (Route 140), the pantry is in dire need of non-perishable items such as canned pasta, canned fruit, condiments, tea, peanut butter, syrup and other commodities.

"The holidays are a special time for many, as we spend time and celebrate with loved ones, family and friends," Binkowski wrote on the group page. "However for others, unfortunately, they are just another day to wonder where their next meal will come from."

Mozzicato, 20, just completed his second professional season since being drafted out of East Catholic High School by the Kansas City Royals with the seventh overall pick in 2021. In 40 starts in Class-A and High-A pro ball, he has struck out 219 batters in 162 innings pitched, an average of 12.17 strikeouts per 9 innings.

Members of the group, which currently numbers 546 fans, are asked to contribute food items to the pantry. In return, they become eligible for an entry into a drawing Binkowski is conducting for Mozzicato-related merchandise. For each non-perishable food or canned item donated, the contributor will receive an entry into a random drawing.

Prizes include:

• autographed Quad Cities River Bandits hat
• MLB baseball with Kansas City Royals logo and ball cube (2 available)
• 2021 Leaf Trinity auto card, purple parallel, 19 of 25
• 2021 Leaf Trinity RPA card, teal parallel, 53 of 99
• 2021 Leaf Trinity RPA bronze card (not numbered)
• sealed 2023 Columbia Fireflies 37-card team set (2 available)
• 2021 Bowman First rookie card (10 available)
• 2021 Panini Elite Extra Edition base card

Binkowski said he will be able to get the items autographed. He is also limiting winners to one prize per person, "to give 20 individuals the chance to win."

Donations may be made by arranging a pickup with Binkowski, dropping them to him at an arranged time, or on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ellington Big Y supermarket. For those living out of the area, cash donations via Venmo will be used to purchase food items. Cash donors will be credited two entries toward the drawing, for every dollar contributed.

Items will be collected and donations accepted through Tuesday, Dec. 5. Prize winners will be drawn on Saturday, Dec. 16.

To join Frank's Fans and become eligible for prizes, click here.