WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue track and field program teamed with the MOMS Club of West Lafayette and New Community School to sponsor four families and provide them with Christmas gifts and dinner Sunday night. The Boilermakers hosted the event for the fourth consecutive year, which began when head coach Lonnie Greene came to Purdue.
Greene prides himself on giving back and being a blessing in other people's lives. That is something he tries to teach his teams daily. The fourth-year head coach asked his team donate their time and money to help support families in the greater-Lafayette community. In all, nearly $3,000 was raised for the meals and gifts.
The Boilermakers spent the weekend wrapping presents ahead of Sunday night's event. The Boilermakers welcomed the families into Lambert Fieldhouse, where they shared a warm holiday meal, gifts and even pictures with a Purdue Santa.
The four families were selected based on need from the New Community School in Lafayette. Approximately half the students at the school struggle to bring a daily lunch, along with other financial burdens. That figure alone shows the needs of the students, especially since the school cannot provide lunches or transportation. The school uses those figures to identify specific families with financial needs and then goes through a selection process to select the families for the event.
Coach Greene and the Boilermakers plan to continue hosting the event for as long as he is at Purdue.
The Boilermakers open the 2015-16 track season Friday with a trip to Bloomington, Indiana, for the Hoosier Opener.