Team Service Projects
Team Service Projects
2010-11 Service Projects
2009-10 Service Projects
2008-09 Service Projects
Each of the eight varsity athletic teams annually performs an on-campus and off-campus service project. Teams have chosen a variety of projects over the past several years. Reading for an elementary school class, serving dinner at the South Bend Center for the Homeless, and raising money for and participating in Light the Night events are just a few examples of projects that Saint Mary's teams have been a part of in the past.
Take a look at what Belles varsity athletes have done to help serve the College and local community!
Basketball - Cross Country - Golf - Soccer - Softball - Swimming & Diving - Tennis - Volleyball
Basketball
St. Margaret's House Donations
During out of town tournaments, the basketball team collects the complimentary toiletries at the hotel. After three of these tournaments, they have collected a significant enough amount in order to donate all the soaps, shampoos, conditioners etc. to Saint Margaret's House. "St. Margaret's House improves the lives of women and children by providing individual attention to their immediate needs, breaking the bonds of isolation and helping them acquire skills to better their lives. Through a philosophy of shared ownership in St. Margaret's House, guests become empowered by participating in planning and decision making." The women of St. Margaret's House greatly appreciated the donations. St. Margaret's House accepts donations on line as well. http://www.stmargaretshouse.org/donate-now.htm
Twelve Days of Christmas
For the basketball team’s second service project, they worked together with Saint Mary's own Office for Civic and Social Engagement (OCSE). The OCSE has created a program called The Twelve Days of Christmas, in hopes to raise awareness for poverty while simultaneously raising money for those in need within the South Bend community. The basketball team assisted in preparing baked goods for the bake sale that the program hosted this year.
Cross Country
Race to Zero
For the second year in a row, the Saint Mary's cross country team volunteered for Race to Zero in Mishawaka. The 5K Road Race began at 10am on Sunday, September 25, 2011 at Beutter Riverfront Park in Mishawaka. Race to Zero, sponsored by Family and Children's Center, prevents child abuse in an effort to bring the total number of deaths by abuse to zero in the state of Indiana. The Belles braved the rain to help direct participants and encourage them along the route. Proceeds from the race benefited abused children in St. Joseph County.
Running Trail Clean Up
For the team's second service project, we did a trash pick-up along multiple routes in South Bend that we frequently run. The team split up into groups of three or four and then gathered trash along the paths. We covered a total of three routes. The team chose to do this service project again this year because we thought it was a great way to integrate an aspect of our sport with service to the community. It is nice for us to be able to see the contributions we made as we continue to run along these routes.
Golf
Twelve Days of Christmas Craft Show
On Thursday, December 8th, 2011 the golf team took a study break and met to bake Christmas cookies for the Saint Mary's Craft Show. The craft show took place in Le Mans Hall, at Saint Mary's College on Friday, December 9th, 2011. The craft show is held at the end of the College's 12 Days of Christmas program, which works with area organizations such at the Salvation Army, REAL Services, and other Catholic Charities to collect food, gifts and funds for area families in need. The golf team's donation of baked goods helped to raise funds for the cause.
Soccer
Swanson Highlands Elementary
The Saint Mary's soccer team helped out at Swanson Highlands Elementary School on Thursday, October 20. The players helped out in different classrooms reading with kids, helping teachers with lesson plans, and keeping the kids entertained. All the players enjoyed working with kids in the South Bend community and hope to make working in an elementary school in South Bend an annual event.
Hannah and Friends Christmas
The Saint Mary's soccer team helped the Hannah and Friends staff with decorating the main building for Christmas. Residents as well as many other South Bend community members visited Hannah and Friends for a Christmas party, and the members of the team gladly helped the staff prepare for this event.
Softball
Little Flower Catholic Church Craft Show
On Thursday, November 10, 2011 the Saint Mary’s Softball Team journeyed through the first snowfall of the winter season to Little Flower Catholic Church in South Bend, Indiana for a community service event. Every year, Little Flower hosts a “Kris Kringle Craft Show”, which is a nice day filled with handmade items by local crafters, a bake sale, a raffle, and a food pantry drive. This year, the Softbelles took some time out of their schedules to help the Craft Show by decorating cookies for the church to sell at the bake sale. We decorated hundreds of cookies and of course, had some fun doing it! If you’re interested in checking out some of our creative cookies, the "Kris Kringle Craft Show" will be held on November 12th at Little Flower Church.
Swimming and Diving
Special Olympics Swim Lessons
The swim team has accompanied the Men's Swimming team at Notre Dame in conducting two Special Olympic swimming workshops. On both occasions, all of the swimming Belles have made a splash with the participants. We have helped perfected different strokes and played games. All the members of the team have enjoyed working at the events, in fact it ends up being some of our favorite days.
Tennis
Little Flower Catholic Church Craft Show
The Saint Mary's tennis team volunteered in decorating cookies at the Little Flower Catholic Church in South Bend on Thursday, November 10, 2011. This community service assisted the church in being able to sell the cookies at their "Kris Kringle Craft Show". They were able to sell the cookies we decorated on November 12th at the Craft Show. The tennis team decorated hundreds of cookies, which was lot of fun! It was also a great way to bond with our teammates and meet the new players.
Volleyball
Move In Day
In August, the Belles Volleyball Team worked alongside other student volunteers to help the freshmen move in to the residence halls by assisting in unpacking cars and carrying luggage. Spread around campus, the team helped move-ins at LeMans, McCandless, Regina, and Holy Cross, often braving the climb to the fourth or fifth floors carrying luggage and objects of many different shapes and sizes. Although the stairs and heavy lifting definitely kept us going on our pre-season path to getting in shape for the season, being able to talk with the freshmen and help the parents and families with the overwhelming task of moving in and saying goodbye was the most valuable part of the experience. The team was able to help relieve some of the burden, stress, and chaos of trying to move into a new home for the first time amidst hundreds of others doing the same thing. We were able to reach out and help the freshmen feel welcome right away, and we were rewarded with their sincere gratitude and smiles.
