Dec. 15, 2011
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NORMAL, Ill. - During a college basketball season, student-athletes schedules are filled with classes, practices, study halls, watching film and several other things that come up on a day-to-day basis, but during the holiday season, it is important to give back. On Thursday, the Redbird women's basketball team traded in their basketball shoes for serving spoons, and donated its time at the Home Sweet Home Ministries in Bloomington, Ill.
Head coach Stephanie Glanceused the day as a different type of teaching opportunity for her team.
"We talk to our players all the time about being grateful for all the opportunities we are given and for all of the blessings we have in our lives," Glance said. "Therefore it is very important to understand how to give to others. Today was a day of giving to others. But, what we really want our players to understand is that everyday should be a day of giving to others."
The team started their day with a tour of the facility, but was quickly put to work, as they helped set up and prepare for the lunch time meal. The Redbirds prepared the meal, helped sort food in the pantry, donated time in the mission mart and ended their experience serving lunch.
Sabrina Burkiewicz, the vice president of marketing and retail operations at Home Sweet Home, was glad the Redbirds were able to spend the morning with the organization.
"We were so excited to have them here today as our local celebrities," Burkiewicz said. "What it does is bring so much excitement into our facility and our clients know people really do care for them. It is a fun day to have a fun thing happening. We are so thankful for their help, because without them, we wouldn't have gotten everything accomplished in the food pantry, the kitchen and the mission mart. So, we are so thankful that they came."
Home Sweet Home Ministries has been serving the Bloomington-Normal community since they opened their doors in 1917. The organization serves three meals a day that are prepared by full-time kitchen managers and volunteers.
The Redbirds will return to the court, Monday, Dec. 19, as they host in-state rival DePaul at 7:05 p.m. in Redbird Arena, before traveling north to take on Michigan, Thursday, Dec. 22.
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