As part of a first-of-its-kind promotion, the Lakewood BlueClaws (Low Class A; Sally League) and Trenton Thunder (Class AA; Eastern League) have announced all children will eat for free at every 2009 home game.

Both teams have expressed a clear desire to help area families in the current economic climate. This includes directly providing unprecedented value for area residents and positively contributing to local communities in these challenging times. The program covers 141 games between the two clubs.

"We want to bring some joy back to Jersey," said Joe Finley, President of both ballclubs. "Our teams are an important part of their respective communities, and this is our way of helping everyone in both areas."

Each child, ages 12 and under, will receive a voucher upon entering the ballpark good for a free hot dog, bag of potato chips and a 12 oz. fountain soda. The value of the program to area families is unmatched in Minor League Baseball history.

"We really couldn't be happier to do this," added Thunder General Manager Will Smith. "We recognize the struggles everyone is facing, and we're thrilled to offer an even greater value to fans in 2009."

The BlueClaws have had a successful Kids Eat Free program on Mondays for the last three seasons, presented by ShopRite.
 
"Being able to do this for the entire season means a lot," said BlueClaws General Manager Geoff Brown. "It's an opportunity for us to reach out to everyone and thank them for their support over the last few years."
 
Lakewood and Trenton are the only two affiliated Minor League Baseball teams in the state of New Jersey. Together, they average close to 900,000 fans per year and are continually at the top of the attendance standings in their respective leagues and class-levels.
 
Contact the BlueClaws at 732-901-7000 or online at BlueClaws.com. Individual game tickets go on sale at the team's annual FanFest on Saturday, March 7th at FirstEnergy Park.
 
The Thunder (Double-A, Yankees) can be reached at 609-394-3300 or at TrentonThunder.com. All Thunder 2009 tickets, including those for the
2009 Eastern League All-Star game on July 15th at Waterfront Park, are on sale now