UTICA, NY – The Utica College softball team has spent plenty of time giving back to the local community this holiday season. The Pioneers rang the bell for Salvation Army, volunteered at the local American Legion for a veterans and children's christmas party. In addition, the team volunteered their time at Hope House in Utica earlier in the fall.
The experience allowed team members the opportunity to serve the surrounding community, and lend a hand to those in the Utica area who may not experience the same fortunes and may need assistance to receive food and other necessities. All the while, the Pioneers built leadership skills while having the opportunity to work as a team on a project away from the field of play.
Hope House is a soup kitchen located in Utica, NY. They provide 2-3 meals a day, seven days a week to those in most need in the community. The organization averages 7,500 meals a month, and 95,000 meals per year. A first group of team members helped with the preparatory work for the ingredients for that day's meals. A second group of Pioneers came in for a second shift, and were given the opportunity to cook that day's meal that would be served to those in need that evening.
The softball team's participation is the continuation of a long standing relationship between Utica College athletics and area organizations such as Hope House, American Legion and the Salvation Army. The athletic department considers service to community to be one of the cornerstones of the student-athlete experience, and encourages participation through programs throughout the year in hopes of cultivating an enduring spirit of service.