Giving Back: AJ Francis’ Canned Food Drive A Huge Success

The season of giving thanks is upon us, and many different athletes across the world are finding ways to give back to those who are less fortunate. Here in Maryland, one former football star returns home for an annual tradition, to rally Terps fans into opening their hearts and emptying their pantries. 

Former Maryland star, NFL player, and current independent wrestling star AJ Francis held his fifth annual Canned Food Drive at the University of Maryland and was able to do it during a special time on campus. 

For the first time in 2021, Maryland men’s basketball, football, and women’s basketball played on consecutive days in College Park, as well as the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony, making it a prime opportunity for Francis and his team to collect as many canned goods and perishable items as possible.

This is an initiative that Francis started when he wasn’t as well-known, and now that he has a lengthy resume of professional sports, sports entertainment, and wrestling, he is using his elevated platform to give back to those who need it the most. 

“A lot of my friends and their families struggled,” Francis said. “A lot of people in my own family struggled and that whole area is a very tough area to make it out of. My dad was my head football coach and he's always instilled in me since I was a kid the importance and need to give back to people.”

The recipients of the goods will be those associated with Sarah’s House in Fort Meade, Maryland, which is just a short drive from Francis’ hometown of Severn. Sarah’s House is a housing program that offers emergency shelter and supportive housing with an array of other services for families experiencing homelessness in Anne Arundel County.

Francis was an anchor of the Maryland defensive line from 2009-12, playing in 49 games and compiling 149 tackles and 9.5 sacks. He would go on to play in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins and the New York Giants before transitioning to professional wrestling.

More impressive than his on the field numbers were what he was able to accomplish off of it. The defensive lineman was a three-time Academic All-ACC choice and always prioritized his schoolwork and charitable work as much as his playing career. Francis has always been a charitable person, having volunteered S.O.M.E. (So Others May Eat) in Washington D.C. 

Sarah’s House is home to many people of all different backgrounds and walks of life, and those people mean a lot to Francis and his team of volunteers.

“It's the majority of children that live [At Sarah’s House] and it's children whose parents aren't in their life for one reason or another month. It's families whose houses burned down or going through a sticky situation where they just need a place to stay home. We've done events with them for a decade now. It's really satisfying to know the power that you have to give back. You’re uplifting the most downtrodden of people.”

The 6-foot-5, 300-plus pound Francis may play an abrasive, in your face character on the wrestling circuit, but the man behind the microphone is more than how he comes across on television. 

Terp fans showed out for Francis as his team was able to fill 15 shopping carts of food, all of which is going to the homeless families associated with Sarah’s House. 

Francis doesn’t do charitable work for the adulation, nor does he do it to bolster his image as a professional athlete. He does it because he saw firsthand the hardships that these people face. 

That’s also why he continues to come back to Maryland for the drive, instead of making it a national one. Francis wants to help those in his community and spur change for his neighbors. He’s also incredibly grateful for the University of Maryland and its athletic department for allowing him to come back every year for his noble cause.

“I always do [My canned food drive] around Thanksgiving time and all of Maryland helps and supports. I think that's the coolest part to me. Seeing the University that I went to, and setting programs up to support me. I think it's pretty cool.”