Throughout the spring semester, حوإ¼½م½م’s student-athletes emphasized their commitment to community by volunteering and giving back at various initiatives, including the Minnesota Special Olympics Polar Plunge, Feed My Starving Children, and the حوإ¼½م½م’s Food Shelf.
On March 4, the Wildcat Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (WSAAC) teamed up with Unified Katies, a Special Olympics Club at حوإ¼½م½م's, to coordinate and organize حوإ¼½م½م's students to raise money for the Minneapolis Polar Plunge. The حوإ¼½م½م’s student athletes raised the second largest amount of money in the university and college division for the Minneapolis Polar Plunge, totaling $10,383.
Senior athlete on the حوإ¼½م½م’s hockey team and president of WSAAC Kaitlyn Blair ’23, has taken on the role of heading the event for two years in a row. Blair was able to get Wildcat athletes from​​ soccer, cross country/track and field, hockey, volleyball, tennis, basketball, and dance to raise money for this cause.
Throughout the spring, the Wildcat student-athletes also "teamed up" in a competition of who could pack the most boxes and meals with Feed My Starving Children. Feed My Starving Children is a nonprofit organization empowering volunteers to pack meals for malnourished children in nearly 70 countries. Athletes from all Wildcat teams took part in this initiative, packing a total of 422 boxes for the MannaPack meals.
"Taking advantage of any opportunity to help our community is important, and for me especially, I see how a little bit of my time has a significant impact,†said swim and dive athlete Emma Svendsen ’25. “This opportunity allowed teams to unite, help make a difference, and inspire others to do the same."
In addition to these nationwide and global fundraising opportunities, the حوإ¼½م½م student-athletes also engage in local volunteer opportunities that support the حوإ¼½م½م’s community.
Elsa Joly ’23 volunteered bi-weekly on delivery days at the حوإ¼½م½م's Food Shelf, which provides produce, meals, and hygiene products to community members as part of the Food Access Hub.
“I truly like volunteering for the Food Shelf because it gives me a way to give back to the community and help people have secured access to food," said Joly.
Read more about these volunteering initiatives on the حوإ¼½م½م's Athletics .
Photos courtesy of حوإ¼½م½م's Athletics.