Student-Athletes Serve Up Joy In Baton Rouge
Written by: Kenya Warren-Hollins, MPA, Program Manager, AFH University
For our AFH University student-athletes, the weeks before Thanksgiving are often met with studying for finals, trips back home, and winter workouts. Amidst all of the hustle and bustle, something our Baton Rouge campuses look forward to each year is their week-long service project Baton Rouge Serves With Purpose.
During the second annual service project, our Baton Rouge student-athletes focused on tackling the disparities of food insecurity by volunteering at various community organizations that routinely provide food, warmth, and friendship to those less fortunate.
Thursday, November 9
Southern Bowling and Southern Soccer kicked off our AFH Baton Rouge Serves With Purpose initiative at Baton Rouge Food Bank. Student-athletes checked expiration dates, sorted, and packaged food boxes for families ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is a nonprofit organization that solicits, procures, inventories, and warehouses donated food and other products. This food is then distributed to a variety of community agencies such as pantries, meal sites, homes, shelters, and soup kitchens that serve the people in need.
Today I helped Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank package food to help feed over 600 families. I served today in hope to give families better access to food and to give back to a community I am grateful to be able to support myself in.
Gia Johnson, Southern Soccer
Tuesday, November 14
During the second day of Baton Rouge Serves With Purpose, Southern Baseball contributed to closing the food insecurity gap in Baton Rouge. They assisted with the Metro Council District 6 Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway hosted by Councilman Cleve Dunn.
After passing out turkeys to families in need, they continued their day of service at St. Vincent de Paul where they served over 100 dining room guests in need of a hot meal.
It’s not only about strikeouts and home runs. It’s about giving back and serving in the community
Coach Crenshaw, Southern Baseball
Thursday, November 16
Southern Bowling visited Louisiana Key Academy after going 8-0 in competition at the Sonic Boom Invitational. They led students through stretches, warm-up exercises, and bowling techniques. To close out their field day, students were able to put their skills to use with a game!
On the same day, Southern Soccer volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul’s annual donation drive held at Hi Nabor grocery store. Student-athletes assisted with collecting donations and educating grocery shoppers about the special event’s cause with some shoppers donating cash on the spot. At the end of their volunteer time, the student-athletes collected over $200 and baskets full of items for the food drive.
Today a couple of my teammates joined me in asking for donations for St. Vincent de Paul’s annual food drive. It brought me great joy to be able to help because I have experienced both sides of the cause, receiving and giving. We accepted monetary donations as well as items requested by St.Vincent de Paul. One family even donated a hundred dollar bill! It was amazing to experience the compassion that comes with doing this type of service
Ashanté Gatlin, SU Women’s Soccer
Friday, November 17
To close out our week-long service event, LSU Beach Volleyball players and coaches visited Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital to spend time with youth who will be spending their holidays in the hospital. There was no shortage of joy as our student-athletes were just as excited as the patients to visit rooms and read books during story time!
Volunteering at the children’s hospital was a very fulfilling experience. The kiddos were so engaging and full of giggles!
Gabi Bailey, LSU Beach Volleyball
The holiday season is a time when we can reflect on all that we are grateful for and this year our student-athletes haven’t stopped saying how grateful they are to be able to give back to their communities. Our student-athletes are already looking forward to our third annual Baton Rouge Serves With Purpose event, and until then, they are looking forward to positively impacting their community at the start of the new year.