Kyrie Irving Pledges $323K Assist Toward Coronavirus Meals

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving plans to dunk on hunger caused by the new coronavirus.

Irving announced Monday on Instagram that he would help distribute 250,000 meals to marginalized New York City area communities.

Feeding that many hungry mouths requires money, and Irving pledged he would step up.

He's donating $323,000 to Feeding America, with another $200,000 in matching donations from Lineage Logistics.

"Seeing the effects of COVID-19 reach our loved ones, our schools, our jobs, and access to food has really impacted me," Irving wrote on Instagram.

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Irving last week saw four of his teammates, including Kevin Durant, test positive for COVID-19 in a spate of team-wide tests. The tests came under fire from, among others, Mayor Bill de Blasio on Twitter.

"We wish them a speedy recovery," de Blasio wrote. "But, with all due respect, an entire NBA team should NOT get tested for COVID-19 while there are critically ill patients waiting to be tested.

"Tests should not be for the wealthy, but for the sick."

Irving asked his fans, friends, family and partners by donating to the hunger campaign.

"Thank you to everyone on the front line working to keep all of us safe, healthy, and fed," he wrote. "Together we can change the world one small gesture at a time."

Information on making donations can be found here.

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