Belmont Abbey College's student-athletes show they care for community

Student-athletes at Belmont Abbey College filled care bags for people struggling with substance abuse at the Charlotte Rescue Mission.

Hundreds of students came together on Monday, Nov. 29, at the ninth annual "GivingBAC," event as a community service effort where students packed different food items such as sandwiches and chips alongside a handwritten note at the Haid Theater on campus.

"It is amazing to see people pack bags that will help others during a random Monday. Events like this help bring sports teams together," said criminal justice major Alexis Helms, 20, of Indian Trail.

Having been in on the lacrosse team since her freshmen year, Helms has advocated for her team as a representative of the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to help organize the event.

"This is the 14th organization we have served this year and upon preparing for the event, each sports team at the college contributed some money so we could purchase the items within the bags," said Helms.

"My father grew up very poor in Nairobi, Kenya, and was helped by Operation Christmas Child, so these efforts of community service are personal to me," said Helms.

Hundred of bags were put together thanks to the student-athletes that make 75% of the school's population, alongside their peers.

As of Monday, the athletic department at the college has been able to accomplish more than 2,000 hours of community service since August, helping organizations throughout Gaston County and Charlotte.

All to just influence students to engage in these types of activities in the future.

"We are a college that wants to educate our students' minds, bodies and souls. We want to install them with principles of selflessness by offering various events that they can be involved in," said Toni Elyea, 40, volleyball head coach at Belmont Abbey.

"This is just one of the many community service events that we will conduct throughout the year and I am just proud of our athletes and their motivation to promote brotherhood and sisterhood within the community."

Beatriz Guerrero can be reached at 704-869-1828 or on Twitter@BeatrizGue_

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Belmont Abbey College's student-athletes that care