MEDAILLE STUDENT-ATHLETES CREATE GIFTS FOR CHILDREN BATTLING CANCER

The Medaille College Athletic Department held their annual Student-Athlete Orientation on Sunday, September 27, and added something very special to the festivities.

October 5, 2015

The Medaille College Athletic Department held their annual Student-Athlete Orientation on Sunday, September 27, and added something very special to the festivities.

The Maverick student-athletes made individual care kits for children in Buffalo who are currently battling cancer. Included in the kits were coloring books, crayons, SpongeBob tissues, mints, lemon drops, a ring pop, a sheet of stickers, as well as hand written notes from all of the student-athletes in attendance offering words of encouragement and well wishes.

In all, 32 care kits were made and will be distributed to the Women’s & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. Helping the Athletics Department with the distribution of the kits is Pastor Paul Emery, Chaplain and head of the Campus Ministry at Medaille College.

“Father Jean-Pierre Medaille’s biggest quote was ‘care for your neighbors’. I always try to tell the students, you’re a role model here,” said Pastor Emery about the community service initiative that the athletes took part in. He hopes to not only bring the care kits to the children, but get a helping hand from the student-athletes as well.

“That one-on-one can make all the difference.” Said Pastor Emery. “To see a kid have a little bit of joy in the midst of what they’re going through makes all the difference. We’ve taken athletes out with tears in their eyes, and they come [back to campus] and they’re different. Their eyes are open, and it’s not about me anymore, it’s about us.”