CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's basketball team has been actively involved with the Cleveland community over the past few weeks, volunteering with the Race For The Cure and Blessings in a Backpack.
CSU's first community outreach event of the season was in conjunction with Blessings in a Backpack, a local organization that provides food to kids in need. The Vikings spent the afternoon packing bags of non-perishable food items that were later delivered to high-need students at a local elementary school. Each bag provides enough food to make meals for an entire weekend.
"There are so many great causes – so much need – both in the community and in the country, and it was very satisfying for our team to participate and get involved with these organizations," head coach Kate Peterson Abiad said. "It is important for the members of our team to know that they can give their time and make a difference. That message is important for us to pass along to each generation and it feels good to get involved and help others."
Race For The Cure has been an annual community service project for the Vikings since the 2011-12 season, doing various tasks each year depending on what is needed. This year, members of the team walked around the finish line area handing out information to spectators and race participants to raise awareness about breast cancer.
Along with the volunteer opportunity, head coach Kate Peterson Abiad has made it a yearly activity to run the 5K race with the senior class. This year's lone senior Haley Schmitt and Peterson Abiad had fun running the 5K course that went all around downtown, including a stop in front of the Wolstein Center.
"It was a great opportunity for me to be able to run in the 5K race, and for my teammates to lend a hand and support a great cause," senior Haley Schmitt said. "I really like that we are able to get involved in the Cleveland community and support local organizations with a good cause."
Blessings in a Backpack is a national organization that partners with schools nationwide to ensure impoverished elementary school children are fed on the weekends throughout the school year.
The Northeast Ohio Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is dedicated to combating cancer at every front. A portion of the affiliate's net income goes toward funding grants to local hospitals and community organizations that provide breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs for medically underserved women.