TicketsFeb. 27, 2007
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team spread warmth during the chilly winter season, providing the homeless of Cincinnati with care packages through Operation Warm-Up.
The Hillel Jewish Student Center organized the project, which assembled and delivered over 8,000 packages that included food, toiletries, blankets, clothing and medicine to those in need.
Over 200 volunteers, mostly students from UC, Xavier and , donated their time and effort for the project. Packages were delivered to areas such as Over the Rhine, English Woods, Avondale, West End, and Walnut Hills as well as area drop-in centers, in and Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen.
"This was a great opportunity for our program to give back to the community in a meaningful way," said assistant coach Dan Ensley. "We are very blessed and fortunate for everything that we have and do on a daily basis. It really puts our soccer and college careers in perspective when we get a chance to see what those less fortunate deal with in their day-to-day lives."
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics' CATAPULT plan, unveiled prior to the 2006-07 school year by Director of Athletics Mike Thomas, challenges each program throughout the department to become a leading member of the community.
"It was wonderful to have the UC men's soccer team with us," said project coordinator Jessica Segal, a program assistant with the . "They worked very hard and had a genuine interest in helping out. Even the coaches pitched in. It was really great to have them here."