GLENSIDE, Pa. - Arcadia University's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) continues to make a lasting impact in the community this fall, as its Thanksgiving donation drive raised $2,125 to provide Thanksgiving meals for 43 families in need through Helping Hands in Northeast. All 26 of the Knights' varsity athletic teams made contributions to the fundraiser in a week's time before the meals were delivered on Sunday, November 22.
"I found out about the Helping Hands program from one of my grade school friends who volunteers for them, and she posted a link to Facebook to raise money and get the word out about what she is a part of," Arcadia women's soccer senior and SAAC Executive Board member, Eva Ruppersberger, said. "I wanted to bring it to SAAC and see what the Arcadia Athletics community would be able to do with it."
Arcadia SAAC representatives began to raise money on November 13 and received some form of donation from every Arcadia student-athlete within a week. The original plan was to pair up teams with similar roster sizes to meet the same fundraising goals, but the donation numbers quickly exceeded expectations.
"Our hope was that each group would raise $100 to provide for two meals for families, but as donations started flowing in, we quickly realized how much the Arcadia Athletics community cares about giving back," Lauren Dougherty, a senior on the Arcadia field hockey team and SAAC Executive Board member, remarked. "Eva kept giving us updates with the new donations coming in each day and we were so impressed by what the teams were able to collect."
By the end of the fundraising period, the Arcadia Athletics community raised $2,125 to provide Thanksgiving meals for 43 families in the Philadelphia area that were delivered on Sunday, November 22. Arcadia's contributions to the Helping Hands in Northeast Thanksgiving Drive helped the charity surpass 600 meals for families this holiday season.
"Our charity was started 14 years ago with the goal to feed families for Thanksgiving," said Phil Consalvo, Treasurer of Helping Hands. "The first year of our Thanksgiving drive, we fed 13 families and this year we fed 650 families. The drive has grown and grown every year."
"I know my intention with this donation drive is likely the same as everyone's, but I hope moving forward this becomes a trend so people can see how much of a difference they can make in a community close to them," said women's basketball senior
Haley Still, who played a major role in the effort by raising more than $200 in just over three days. "I hope this becomes contagious around the holidays so every family can enjoy it."
The Helping Hands in Northeast Thanksgiving Drive is the second major fundraising initiative that Arcadia SAAC has taken on this fall, as the committee successfully
raised over $1,300 for front line workers at three area hospitals as part of its U-Knight for the Front Line campaign in October.
"The pandemic has really shown who we are," men's soccer junior and SAAC Executive Board member,
Jake Varrato, said. "Arcadia SAAC is still willing to step up and dig deep to find ways to serve those in need during these very tough times and not confine ourselves to our own bubble of comfort. I believe it has been a great reflection of the integrity and core values that make up the Arcadia community."
About Helping Hands in Northeast
At Helping Hands In Northeast, we strive to make a difference in our community and so far we have impacted the lives of thousands of families in the Northeast area of Pennsylvania . Helping Hands in the Northeast is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting families in their time of need.
Our inspiration comes from Having a connection to our community, which allows us to work and dedicate ourselves to making an impact. We are called to serve the people in greatest need right in our area, to relieve their suffering and to help promote the transformation of their condition of life.
We seek to understand the situation of someone in need and work alongside them toward fullness of life, to possibly make a change in their life, even if for a moment.
