EUGENE, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University athletic department has started the year off strong for 2019-2020, putting into motion multiple community service projects before the school-year even began.
After collecting over 3500 community service and missions hours last year (averaging 18 hours per student-athlete) the department has set a goal for each student-athlete to earn at least 20 hours this year, and all of the teams got off on the right foot.
For the ninth straight year, all returning NCU student-athletes came together on Sunday night for the annual Beacon Athletics Fall Service Day. Athletes participated in a "reverse shopping" canned food drive, canvasing multiple neighborhoods in Eugene with shopping carts in hand, going door-to-door to collect canned food, dry goods, toilet paper, and paper towels to benefit FOOD for Lane County.
For the soccer programs, the method may have been different, but the outcome proved to be a good one. Before the event, assistant men’s soccer coach Jonathan Rea challenged the men’s and women’s soccer athletes to think about what they would donate to a friend in need. The athletes pooled their money and coach Rea then matched their donations dollar for dollar.
Once the funds were collected the teams split up and went shopping. Associate Athletic Director Sarah Freeman said, “It was great to see our student-athletes not only taking time to serve our community but to also give of their own money. To see a group of young people willing to give of what little money they have as college students was truly encouraging and inspiring.”
The following day, members of the athletic administrative team took the cans, which filled an entire pick-up truck bed in addition to three rows of seats in the school van. When all was said and done, 1,934 pounds of food were collected which amounted to 700 pounds more than the record and a 900 pound increase over 2018-19.
The returning-student service project is intentionally scheduled for the Sunday before school begins each year as it coincides with “Get Your Serve On,” a student-orientation day of service that afternoon. For that event, all new incoming student-athletes, along with their other peers, participated at four different locations for “Project Hope” an annual endeavor put on by a collective effort of local churches. Student-athletes helped to pass out backpacks filled with school supplies to children in need, played with kids, painted faces, helped behind the scenes and did their part to make the day a fun one for everyone who came.
The women’s basketball team added a few extra hours of help to the event, serving alongside Pastor and team Chaplain Ken Brown during the week leading up to the event, stuffing those backpacks with school supplies.
Freeman said, "I'm very proud of our student-athletes and the work they have done and will continue to do this year. As a Christ-centered athletic department, service is central to our mission and a great way to kick off the year. Doing the canned food drive and helping with Project Hope allow our student-athletes to respond to a need and actively get involved with our community in an impactful way."
Next up for the Beacons will be NCU’s annual Embrace the Community Day on Tuesday, September 17 when all afternoon classes are cancelled so the entire campus has the opportunity to spread to nearly 20 different projects in the Eugene/Springfield area.