SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Spring break usually means beaches and relaxation for most college students. For Spring Arbor University spring-sport student-athletes it means a jam-packed slate of games in the warm weather and sunshine. But for members of the women’s tennis and softball teams, this year was a chance to give back and serve the local communities they visited.
While in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the women’s tennis team partnered with a community organization called The Deep Well Project. Deep Well, as it’s known on the island, is a non-profit organization that has been giving islanders a hand-up since 1973. Head coach Bobby Pratt and his team had the opportunity to aid a gentleman with work around his property.
“It was very nice helping out someone in the community who physically cannot do that on their own,” said student manager Cindy Yang. “It was a great team-bonding experience and it drew us closer together.”
“Doing something like this as part of our spring break experience is just as important as any of the matches that we play,” added Pratt. “Christ came to be a servant and He implores us to follow His example no matter where we are.”
Meanwhile, over 300 miles away in central Florida, the softball team spent an afternoon with an organization called Give Kids The World, a nonprofit resort that provides weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses, as well as their families.
“Volunteering at Give Kids the World is always my favorite part of our Florida trip because of the amazing people we get to meet and interact with while we are there,” said Nicolette Thibodeau, a junior on the Cougar softball team. “Everything there is so bright and colorful and it’s just a great place with an amazing atmosphere.”
The Village and its community partners provide children and their families accommodations in fully-furnished villas, transportation, tickets to the area theme parks and other attractions. Their goal is to provide everything to the families to make their trip the vacation of a lifetime.
Thibodeau added, “My favorite part of this year was getting to meet and talk to a girl who is a senior in high school that just finished chemo a couple months ago. We talked about prom, graduation and what her plans are after high school. Her amazing attitude was so inspiring to me and I feel so lucky to have met someone so amazing. The people may not remember us or what we looked like, or what we said, but at the end of the day they will remember the amazing trip they got to take to Disney and for our team, being able to be just a small part of it, is life changing.”