Gators Give Back to the Community for Thanksgiving
Monday, November 21, 2011 | Football
The University of Florida football team, members of the baseball, men's golf, soccer and softball teams, various support staff and several student volunteers at the Campus Catholic Ministries all came together today to help give back to the community. United as Gators, the volunteers helped unload, pack, reload and distribute enough food to feed over 500 needy and homeless families in Gainesville and the surrounding areas for an entire week, all thanks to generous donations by Head Men's Basketball Coach Billy Donovan and Head Football Coach Will Muschamp.
The event took place in two sessions Monday at St. Augustine Church on W. University Ave. Coordinated by Rev. David Ruchinski, student-athletes from various teams combined forces during the afternoon to unload all the donated food and set up for the night's event. Later in the evening, over 85 members of the Florida football team, along with several student volunteers from the church, came together to pack all the food and other items into bags to be donated to four local charities: The Salvation Army and Catholic Charities will distribute the bags to 300 needy families, while St. Francis House and St. Vincent de Paul will give the food to 200 homeless families. Each family will receive enough food for an entire week, while also receiving various clothing and toiletry items, such as t-shirts, socks and toothpaste.
“Thanksgiving is a time not for receiving but for giving,” said Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Jamie McCloskey, who helped plan and also volunteered at the event. “There are so many things that we're blessed with that we take for granted, that other folks don't have. We don't need to worry about today's meal or tomorrow's meal, but unfortunately there are people in this community that can't take those things for granted. So, at least we can do something today to brighten their day.”
This was the second annual Thanksgiving charity event for the Gators, as the football team gathered at St. Augustine Church last November as well. The brainchild of former Head Football Coach Urban Meyer, the football team packed food for 300 families in 2010. This year, the goal was 500 families, and the target was not only met, but exceeded.
“This year, we had more athletes coming out to support and to help,” said senior running back Jeff Demps, who was back for his second year. “It's always good to give back to the community. They support us, so it's always good to come out and support them.”
“It's pretty exciting, just to have an opportunity to give back to the people who are less fortunate,” said redshirt junior wide receiver Frankie Hammond, another returning volunteer. “We have people who rally behind us and our football team, and this is our opportunity to give back to those who are less fortunate. It's a chance to show our appreciation to the community, because they show us so much love at our football games and at our events, so it's just an opportunity to give back and show that we care.”
It was truly a sight to see, with close to 20 tables piled high with food, sometimes stacked over people's heads, all to be given to those who may not otherwise have anything to eat. Homeless families received goods such as peanut butter, Vienna sausages, and toothpaste, while needy family were given items that they could prepare, including pasta, mashed potatoes, canned fruit and vegetables, and pancake mix. And of course, every bag came with a few treats, including everyone's favorite: chocolate pudding snack packs.
“Just seeing the mountain of food, it has this strong visual effect,” Father David commented. “And then thinking that for some people these bags of groceries are going to be all that they're going to have in the pantry for Thanksgiving, you just know that this is going to make a real difference in the community.”
While the goal was to help families in need, the volunteers also gained a lot from the experience.
“When we got in here, it was fun seeing all the athletes putting things on the truck together,” said freshman cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy, who helped out at both sessions. “It made us bond and come together more as a team and as a community.”
“I don't know about other people,” Demps added, “but it definitely makes me feel better about myself coming back here.”
“It's wonderful,” McCloskey described it. “It was wonderful what we did last year, helping 300 families, and this year to be able to help 500 families, it's just wonderful.”
To see more photos from the event, click here.
