This past month, the Jesuit Soccer program teamed up with the North Texas Food Bank to combat hunger in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The Rangers sponsored a canned food drive at Jesuit and worked at North Texas Food Bank sorting and boxing groceries for struggling families.
This annual tradition for the team began last year when team parents and Coach DeLong decided that a community service opportunity involving the whole program would be extremely beneficial. DeLong described that he took notice of how “baseball, basketball and football had all done activities like this” and knew that his players could make a great impact in the community as well.
After arriving at the food bank, the team listened to a presentation that outlined how the organization operated as well as explained why they needed volunteer help. The presentation provided the boys with the realization of just how many families go hungry in Dallas every day and motivated them to work their hardest. Soon after, they worked for two and a half hours organizing groceries in the food bank’s enormous warehouse, creating ten thousand meals for the hungry. Coach DeLong stated that the food bank’s ability to feed so many people continues to impress him, describing that their warehouse is “several times bigger than our gym.”
Defenseman Johnny Balok ’16 felt as though the team made an incredible difference, saying, “I felt as if we made a significant impact… We were there for just 3 hours and still managed to pack 1,200 pounds of food.” Additionally, he described how it was an extremely enriching and team-building process, as “it didn’t really feel like work because we all just had fun bonding together and sorting the food.”
Besides visiting North Texas Food Bank and providing helping hands, the team also sponsored a canned food drive at Jesuit. The Rangers were able to collect about five boxes of food to bring to the warehouse, including the much needed items of peanut butter and canned meats. Additionally, because the drive was held during the Meintser Tournament, Jesuit received donations from teams and fans from visiting schools.
The event helped the team grow closer and realize the Jesuit mission of becoming Men for Others. Everyone in the program looks forward to working with the North Texas Food Bank in the future and working even harder.
