WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue Athletics, in conjunction with the Purdue Black Cultural Center and the Civic Engagement & Leadership Development Program, today (January 20) participated in the MLK Day of Service.
At locations across Purdue University's grounds, the ACE Campus Food Pantry parked its truck to collect donations throughout the day. Student-athletes, coaches and staff contributed more than 700 pounds of goods to the event at the location in the Sally & Bob Weist Plaza, between Holloway Gymnasium and Mackey Arena, to show their support for the Purdue community.
The MLK Day of Service is focused on taking action to empower and strengthen communities just as Dr. King had done. Purdue Athletics recognizes his life and teachings by encouraging student-athletes, coaches and staff to make a difference by serving agencies working to impact positive change in the local area on issues, including economic opportunity, education, environment and healthy living.
Purdue Athletics' Student-Athlete Development team works throughout the year to coordinate community service events for more than 500 Boilermaker student-athletes. Annually, student-athletes work with approximately 50 non-profit organizations supporting a wide variety of missions.
In the fall of 2019, Purdue baseball logged over 450 hours of community service. For today's event, the baseball program made the collective decision to attend the food drive as a team.
"One of the most important things you can do as not only a member of Purdue Athletics, but also as a member of the community, is to give back to those in need. Coach Goff and his staff encourage us to be servants of the community and make an impact for those less fortunate," said Tyler Power, a junior infielder. "My teammates and I are grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community and represent Purdue Baseball in a positive way."
The ACE Campus Food Pantry makes food more readily available to members of the Purdue community who may be experiencing food insecurity on a consistent or inconsistent basis. While the organization also focuses on serving the immediate needs in the Purdue community, it is also focused on the eradication of the root causes of hunger, such as culturally appropriate food access, food use and food availability.
"Community service is a great way to bring people together while helping others. Even a small event for us can have a huge impact on those we are helping," stated junior infielder Justin Walker. "It is an honor to be a part of a university and department that is always looking for ways to help others and the community."
"Our staff preaches the importance of being selfless, with our families, on the field and certainly in our communities. It's very important to provide our student-athletes an opportunity to give back in as many ways as possible. Being able to impact the ACE Campus Food Pantry, which is focused on the Purdue community, makes it even more gratifying," Greg Goff, head baseball coach says. "The hope is it provides our players with an appreciation for the responsibilities and blessings that come with being a Purdue student-athlete, and in turn helps them recognize the impact they can have on community. Our young men really embraced the selflessness of community service and partnering with the ACE Campus Food Pantry in making a difference."
At locations across Purdue University's grounds, the ACE Campus Food Pantry parked its truck to collect donations throughout the day. Student-athletes, coaches and staff contributed more than 700 pounds of goods to the event at the location in the Sally & Bob Weist Plaza, between Holloway Gymnasium and Mackey Arena, to show their support for the Purdue community.
The MLK Day of Service is focused on taking action to empower and strengthen communities just as Dr. King had done. Purdue Athletics recognizes his life and teachings by encouraging student-athletes, coaches and staff to make a difference by serving agencies working to impact positive change in the local area on issues, including economic opportunity, education, environment and healthy living.
Purdue Athletics' Student-Athlete Development team works throughout the year to coordinate community service events for more than 500 Boilermaker student-athletes. Annually, student-athletes work with approximately 50 non-profit organizations supporting a wide variety of missions.
In the fall of 2019, Purdue baseball logged over 450 hours of community service. For today's event, the baseball program made the collective decision to attend the food drive as a team.
"One of the most important things you can do as not only a member of Purdue Athletics, but also as a member of the community, is to give back to those in need. Coach Goff and his staff encourage us to be servants of the community and make an impact for those less fortunate," said Tyler Power, a junior infielder. "My teammates and I are grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community and represent Purdue Baseball in a positive way."
The ACE Campus Food Pantry makes food more readily available to members of the Purdue community who may be experiencing food insecurity on a consistent or inconsistent basis. While the organization also focuses on serving the immediate needs in the Purdue community, it is also focused on the eradication of the root causes of hunger, such as culturally appropriate food access, food use and food availability.
"Community service is a great way to bring people together while helping others. Even a small event for us can have a huge impact on those we are helping," stated junior infielder Justin Walker. "It is an honor to be a part of a university and department that is always looking for ways to help others and the community."
"Our staff preaches the importance of being selfless, with our families, on the field and certainly in our communities. It's very important to provide our student-athletes an opportunity to give back in as many ways as possible. Being able to impact the ACE Campus Food Pantry, which is focused on the Purdue community, makes it even more gratifying," Greg Goff, head baseball coach says. "The hope is it provides our players with an appreciation for the responsibilities and blessings that come with being a Purdue student-athlete, and in turn helps them recognize the impact they can have on community. Our young men really embraced the selflessness of community service and partnering with the ACE Campus Food Pantry in making a difference."