"Being part of a varsity team (women's lacrosse) at Western has its perks on and off the field. There are so many opportunities for athletes to be involved in community initiatives in London. One that I have most recently participated in was the London Food Bank. Volunteers from our team were assigned to sort and collect donated food that would be packaged and sent to families in need over the holidays. This opportunity is a great way to get athletes involved in something that they can really relate to being important in their lives. As athletes, we know how significant it is to have a good meal to have the energy to compete. Unfortunately, there are many people who aren't always able to have a meal on their table. Being part of the food bank volunteer program has made me realize how fortunate I am to have three meals a day and how taking a few hours of your time can really impact someone else's life in the largest way."
- Fran Bonomi, Women's Field Lacrosse
"As a team we collectively gathered money from each teammate that wanted to participate. We were given the names, ages, and interests of the family of four to help aid us in purchasing personalized gifts for the kids. We designated the shopping responsibility to a small group of our team due to our limited time frame. It was an amazing experience, especially for the shoppers who were able to experience the full donation process. I personally enjoyed how I felt connected to the family that we were helping. This is definitely something that I will continue to do every year."
- Danica Spencer, Women's Rugby Boys and Girls Club Sport Day
"I chose to volunteer because I wanted a fun way to get involved around campus! I also think it means a lot to the kids who were there and I think they had a fun time with it. Which made me happy. Other athletes would definitely get a fun and exciting experience out of volunteering. Spending time with younger children that are actually excited to meet you makes the day that much more enjoyable.The day was so much fun and getting to meet and hangout with other athletes from different teams definitely is a great way to make new friends."
- Lana Mcilwain, Women's Golf
"I chose to volunteer because I thought it would be a great way to give back to the youth community, and I could do it in a fun and exciting way through sport. I think it is great for both the kids and volunteers to stay active, and I enjoyed sharing my athletic experiences with kids, hopefully motivating them to get more involved in sports and all of the benefits being a part of a team and sport community holds!"
- Michelle Farrugia, Women's Field Lacrosse
"Student athletes are reminded of our privileged lifestyles when we get to volunteer and teach athletics to underprivileged children. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to attend university and I think increased volunteer efforts by athletes would serve to benefit the London community in a positive manner."
- Shane Roberts, Track and Field
