TicketsThe Cincinnati track and field team continued its annual community service initiatives recently with both Girls on the Run and Meals on Wheels, showcasing its mission beyond sports.
This fall marks 13 years with the former, and three with the latter. Associate head coach Nadine Faustin-Parker says the program has always looked to cover at least 10 hours, which has also in the past included the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in Nippert Stadium.
"The younger girls are empowered by the older ones (at Girls on the Run), and they really enjoy just engaging with them and the interaction of having our girls participate on the stage is such a great moment," she said of the race at Yeatman's Cove downtown. "It's priceless, and you can really see it on the kids' faces, and they get to team up with (2008 Olympic gold medalist and Cincinnati grad) Mary Wineberg as well. It's a joy that we get to do that."
Meals on Wheels saw the men's team prepare 600 meals for seniors, plus 500 snack boxes within a two-hour period.
"The guys did a superb job," Faustin-Parker said. "The staff members said at the end that they saved their own workers about five hours leading into the holidays. It's always awesome that direct supervisors for the organizations are pleasant to work with."
Faustin-Parker did have one other takeaway that will surely resonate with anyone, athlete or not.
"I think it always has the kids taken aback too, because they realize 'my goodness, I can scroll for an hour. I can do X, Y and Z and right now, but I just helped prepare 600-plus meals and 500 snack boxes."
