KU Student-Athletes

Nov. 4, 2009

For the month of October, University of Kansas student-athletes collected two full vehicles of non-perishable food items, clothing and toiletries, and donated them to the Lawrence Community Shelter on 10th and Vermont.

In a two-step process sponsored by Kansas Athletics’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), student-athletes from seven Jayhawk teams visited local Lawrence neighborhoods Sunday, October 18, and distributed flyers and paper sacks to Lawrence residents explaining the cause and purpose of the program. A week later, on Sunday, October 25, student-athletes went back to the neighborhoods to collect the donations.

Donated food items included not only food and snacks, but also toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, and winter clothes. Student-athletes from men’s and women’s track and field, volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s golf, baseball and rowing participated in the effort.

“A month ago this was just an idea,” said Katie Martincich, a senior volleyball player who proposed the idea to SAAC. “It was amazing to see the dream become a reality. I really can’t believe how supportive the Lawrence community was in donating so many items.”

Dianne Huggins, who works with the Lawrence Community Center, explained that the donated items were arriving at the perfect time. “This project is an example of when one can’t say thanks enough,” Huggins said. “KU Student-Athletes did an outstanding service to the homeless community in Lawrence. The food will be used to prepare dinners for some 76 homeless individuals who stay at Lawrence Community Shelter. The three two-year-olds and one four-year-old were thrilled to see all the snacks, juices, and macaroni & cheese. With cold days coming, the gloves and socks will be so helpful.”