While flood relief and recovery efforts in B.C. are ongoing, TWU Spartans athletes are rising to the challenge through volunteerism.
Seeing the hardship that many B.C. families faced as a result of the recent flood disasters, Jeff Gamache, TWU Director of Athletics, put out a challenge to the student athletes on campus.
The idea was that each athletic team would take the initiative to organize a time when the team or most of the team could go and help a family in need. A member from the TWU community, whose family lived in Arnold, B.C., had five feet of water accumulate inside her family home. Her family, along with many neighbours, had to evacuate.
Flood relief and recovery in that region is still ongoing.
“I bought 50 pairs of gloves and we leave them at the gym office desk. Whenever a team can go, they grab the gloves and head out to help.”
This past weekend, the TWU Spartans Men’s Soccer team rose to the challenge. Jackson Thomson, the team's discipleship leader, organized his teammates, and together, they drove out to the flood-hit rural community.
Doing 'whatever was needed'
“They pulled garbage and large objects out of ditches. They cleaned out houses, whatever was needed,” Gamache shared.
Other student leaders are continuing to participate in various service efforts.
“I bought 50 pairs of gloves and we leave them at the gym office desk,” said Gamache. “Whenever a team can go, they grab the gloves and head out to help.”
Gamache said that in addition to providing much-needed support to those in need, volunteering with flood relief efforts becomes a very practical life lesson for students.
“The basic idea is that Christian discipleship is not just head knowledge, it is heart-affecting—and we meet needs wherever we see them,” he said.
A family living in the Sumas prairies who was affected by the floods received help from four TWU students. The homeowner later sent a note of gratitude:
"Those boys not only busted their backs for several hours in the rain doing completely unglamorous work but did it with smiles on their faces and great attitudes. On behalf of my family I just wanted to express my gratitude to those four men. I hope they understand how much their help was appreciated, and in a dark period of time for us, brought a wealth of positivity into our lives. We also want to extend thanks to Trinity Western University for producing such great young examples. Thank you again."
Free hockey game admission on Dec. 4 to support the local food bank
This Saturday, Dec. 4, the TWU Spartans Men's Hockey team is offering free admission to their hockey game at the Langley Events Centre, in exchange for food donations to the Fraser Valley Regional Food Bank. Join the excitement of the game, and support local B.C. families in need.
See also—Giving Tuesday: Remembering those affected by B.C. flooding
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About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to establish meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vital faith community committed to forming leaders to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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