Holiday helpers
Student athletes spend Halloween doing charity work
NO TRICKS — Trick Or Treat So Others Can Eat is one of many community service projects in which Liberty athletics volunteer. Photo provided
Each year on Oct. 31 as kids all over the Lynchburg area don costumes and head out the door to trick-or-treat, so do Liberty University student athletes.
Instead of asking for candy, however, all 20 NCAA teams, including coaches and staff, knock on doors and ask their neighbors to donate canned goods on behalf of local soup kitchen The Lynchburg Daily Bread as part of the Trick of Treat So Other Can Eat Campaign.
“The program began in 2011 as a part of Associate Athletics Director for Academics Kristie Beitz’s ongoing charge to ‘pay it forward,’” Morgain Godwin, Liberty’s student athlete development coordinator, said.
Last year, the Flames provided approximately 4,000 food items to the organization, and they expect a big delivery again this year.
“I love how giving (Lynchburg) families are,” heptathlete Jessica Harrison said. “It’s important to help the community, and as athletes, we have a large group of
people and great platform to serve.”
According to Flames athletes, the tangible nature of the campaign is rewarding for them, and having an avenue to directly impact those in the Lynchburg area
is meaningful.
“Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat is a unique opportunity for student-athletes to get outside of Liberty and influence the community,” Caila Stapleton, a junior setter for the Lady Flames volleyball team, said. “We’re able to show our neighbors that while we’re here to play sports and get an education, we’re also trying to create positive change in Lynchburg that reflects our faith. Our team even takes it as a chance to have some fun — we dress up and have a little team bonding party before we go out. It’s a night we always look forward to.”
RUSH is a sports reporter.