To be completely honest the reason I began involving myself in community service and volunteering was because of the Tiger Cup. I am a competitive person and I want my team to win, by playing my part and volunteering when I can helps my team out. I began by volunteering an hour or two every other week when opportunities arose as well as volunteering with my team. After a couple of times I volunteered I began taking the initiative and would ask Chrissy if there were any volunteering opportunities available. I would go to the Children’s Hospital, Food, and Humane Society. This spring I began volunteering a lot more and encouraged my teammates to volunteer. The motive behind it was the Phase 1 of our preseason training. During this time were divided into 3 teams each team competing in 4 different sections: Fitness, Soccer, Strength Training, and Community Service. I chose to be in charge of keeping track of community service my team. I would encourage my teammates to volunteer as much as possible to earn points for our team and give back to the community one way or another. I would call the volunteering coordinators of organizations and set up times for them to be able to volunteer. I would ask them where they would like to volunteer because in order for one to not look at it as an obligation it is best to help somewhere of your interest. To volunteer somewhere and give and get the best from it you have to care about what you’re doing and who you’re helping out whether you’re visiting sick children and brightening their day to packaging wieners at the Food Bank. If you’re doing something you think is important you’ll find it worthwhile.

I also volunteer with the minority athlete group C.A.R.E. We’ve helped raise money for Haiti by walking around with bins and collecting loose change anyone here at the facility had. We also had the opportunity to volunteer with the Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Tour by handing our weatherization kits and organizing a Salvation Army here in Columbia.

Edith Lopez