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'We share more than a state line': Panthers to pack food boxes for Florence victims

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Before beginning his weekly Monday press conference, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera took time to offer thoughts and prayers to those affected by Hurricane Florence throughout the Carolinas.

[DEVASTATING FLORENCE: Here's how you can help]

Rivera stepped to the podium wearing a T-shirt showing the Carolinas as one combined state, that reads, “we share more than a state line.”

The shirt also includes the hashtag #careolinas.

[RELATED: Several football teams forced to change game plans ahead of Florence]

The Panthers partnered with Visit North Carolina and Discover South Carolina to show support for recovery efforts with the T-shirt.

The shirts are made by a Charlotte apparel company that produces the shirts in Spartanburg and 100 percent of the proceeds from sales goes to NC and SC hurricane relief funds.

[GALLERY: Storm-related damage across the Charlotte area]

"Our fan base, the people here in this community--we want to do whatever we can to help support them in this recovery effort. It's a very serious set of circumstances and situation and we want to do our part,” said Rivera.

Purchase a T-shirt here.

The new owner of the Panthers has announced an initial package to aid Hurricane Florence disaster relief efforts in North and South Carolina.

Owner David Tepper and Panthers Charities announced the donations in a news release Thursday.

The package includes a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross, $450,000 to regional food banks through 25,000 emergency food packs, as well as aid to high school athletic programs affected by storm damage.

The Panthers staff and players will engage in direct service projects for impacted areas.

The team is also spearheading and coordinating an effort with college football programs in North and South Carolina to unveil a special "One Carolina" helmet sticker to be worn during games on Saturday. Panthers players will wear the sticker during Sunday's home game against Cincinnati.

Rivera, every Panthers player on the roster and Tepper will help pack emergency food boxes at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina Monday morning.

“Natural disasters have a way of bringing communities together and we want to do our part to help the Carolinas rebuild. These emergency food packs will hopefully provide some temporary relief,” said Tepper.

Second Harvest will ship the boxes to Wilmington, N.C., Fayetteville, N.C. and Myrtle Beach, S.C., to be distributed to victims of Hurricane Florence.

“David Tepper’s longstanding commitment to hunger relief efforts has benefited people across our country. His generous financial assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence is vital to the ability of our region’s food banks to respond to the needs of our impacted communities,” said Second Harvest Executive Director Kay Carter.

The organization will continue to pack boxes throughout the week. Team staff will help on Tuesday and the Women of the Panthers are scheduled to pack boxes on Wednesday.

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