FLORENCE — Florence Bank has partnered with UMass Sports Properties and the University of Massachusetts Hockey team to “ice out” hunger in the Valley, and through this new program, the bank will provide $9,500 in $500 grants to each of 19 food pantries across the region.

A different food pantry will be highlighted during the first intermission at each Massachusetts home game, and a lucky fan will be chosen to ride on the Mullins Center’s Zamboni, which has been wrapped with Florence Bank’s branding. Riders are selected randomly after submitting an entry form at umassathletics.com/Ride.

Andrew Stuebner, general manager for UMass Sports Properties, the multi-media rights holder for Massachusetts Athletics, said the partnership with Florence Bank has been developed over the past few years with Jim Hickey, the bank’s senior vice president / marketing director.

“In exploring high-impact ways to complement Florence Bank’s key objectives of building relationships with local organizations and supporting the communities the bank serves, the concept came to light thanks in large part to Jim,” Stuebner said, adding that the Rider of the Game and Ice Out Hunger themes evolved to ensure a philanthropic component.

Matt Garrity, the president and CEO of Florence Bank, said, “Pantry leaders have told us that the funds we are providing will cover the cost of tens of thousands of meals for people in need in the Valley. The success of the Massachusetts Hockey program provides us with a unique way to communicate the issue of food insecurity to folks in the Pioneer Valley. We’re pleased to partner with UMass to help Ice Out Hunger in the Valley.”

In October, Robin Bialecki, executive director of the Easthampton Community Center, attended a home game with her husband, daughter and son-in-law as the nonprofit sponsored by that game. She accepted the $500 check out on the ice at intermission, and said the funds will cover the cost of over 1,000 meals.

Easthampton Community Center currently offers support to 3,712 families and serves almost 10,000 people every month.

“A thousand people will get to eat dinner because of this partnership,” she said.

Mary Lou Guarnera, executive director of Neighbors Helping Neighbors in South Hadley, will attend Friday’s Minutemen hockey game to enjoy the action on the ice and accept the $500 grant that will help her organization carry out its mission to feed people in need, improve community health and advocate about food insecurity and nutrition. Each granted dollar will pay for three meals, she said.

“We are client choice, meaning folks choose what they want from a menu,” she explained. “They stay in their cars, and when their order has been filled, we put it in their car for them. Our customers are happily surprised to see how much food they receive, as well as the variety.”

Last year, there were roughly 15,250 visits to the Neighbors Helping Neighbors food pantry.

The UMass hockey schedule can be found at umassathletics.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/schedule.