Allen Athletic programs adopted 40 kids in the local community through the Iola First Baptist Church. Athletes from all 11 of the Athletic programs: Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Cheer and Dance, Track and Cross Country, Athletic Training and Golf, raised money throughout the fall to use on gifts for local kids in the Iola community. Each athletic program chose the number of local children in need for the Christmas season that they wanted to adopt. Iola First Baptist Church provided the athletes with a list of needs and wishes for each child and on Thursday, November 29th the athletes gathered at Iola Wal-Mart to shop for each child they adopted. After all the shopping was done the amount spent on the 40 children totaled approximately $2500.
Allen athletes use this as an opportunity to give back to the local community by helping others during the Christmas season. This allows the student athletes the ability to participate in a worthwhile cause that they might not be able to do otherwise.
“It made me appreciate my family and what they could do for me and also made me feel really great that I had the opportunity to shop for a kid and make their Christmas better” Wesley Anderson Jr., Men’s Basketball player, replied when asked how it made him feel.
Allen Community College understands the importance of supporting our local community and this is just one way the college can give back to the community.