Illinois State University athletes made a trip to Heritage Manor in Normal Saturday to continue the schools tradition of providing a service to the community.
Athletes have taken part in numerous activities throughout the Bloominton-Normal community, including reading to elementary level children, community clean-up projects and volunteer work for the Red Cross. This time, athletes played Bingo with senior citizens living at Heritage Manor. For freshman football player Jim Sharfman, taking part in community service activities is all about pride.
Its all about having pride in your team and your school, and coming out here to have fun and be a part of something, Sharfman said.
Senior soccer player Chrystal Johnston has taken part in numerous activities with her team, including projects with Habitat for Humanity and the Red Cross. Johnston took time out of her weekend Saturday to play Bingo with community seniors.
This being my last semester, Ive been trying to get as much volunteer work as I can, Johnston said. Here, I want to come and talk to people and make them feel comfortable.
Junior volleyball player Kelli Rikli organized the event and hopes to keep it going throughout the school year. ISU plans to take part in Bingo at Heritage Manor twice a month until the end of the spring semester.
Redbird athletes also plan to continue taking part in the Missouri Valley Conference sponsored Just Read! event where student-athletes from Valley schools attend local elementary schools and read to young children.
