University of North Carolina Athletics
Season Of Giving
December 4, 2015 | Football, Carolina Outreach
Note: This article originally appeared in the Dec. 1 issue of CAROLINA, the officlal magazine of UNC Athletics and the Rams Club.
by Olivia Henley
It's Monday morning, nine-forty five, and while other college students are hitting the snooze button and rolling over under their covers or just strolling out their doors out to get to their 10 a.m. class, four members of the Carolina Football team were up to bigger things. These players were making their way to Binkley Baptist Church, the headquarters for the Chapel Hill / Carrboro Meals on Wheels program. Jeff Schoettmer, Shakeel Rashad, Romar Morris, and Malik Simmons were the four players, all seniors, that dedicated their time to the community on a frigid, yet sunny morning.
Lucky enough to join these players on their quest to serve the community outside of their norm, I was able to witness first-hand how much delivering these meals meant to all of those involved, from the players, to the volunteers and to the recipients of the meals. It all started with a route. Two players went to one route (Route 1) and two to another (Route 9). Each route began with a binder, which outlined the recipients, their addresses and what they were to receive based on dietary restrictions. Before even leaving the church, a double-check of all the necessary components for each meal was conducted, and then finally, they boys were off.
Their drivers, the Meals on Wheels volunteers, guided each set of two, talking about the program and just getting to know one another, as they set off on their way to brighten days. The excitement in the air was unmistakable, even within lulls in conversation and simple nods or glances. Each stop is the same, you walk up with the meal you put together (usually an entrée, fruit, milk, and for the non-diabetics, a treat), knock on the door, and announce “Meals on Wheels.” Each door is different though, not just visibly from the outside, but what awaits on the inside is also its own story.
Some recipients aren't home, and their meal will be left in the cooler they've left out for the delivery. Other recipients will answer the door, excited for their daily delivery. On this day, these faces were extra bright. The Heels were wearing their uniforms over their sweaters, Carolina Blue beacons of pride on everyone's doorstep as they stopped to take pictures, sign autographs, and shake hands. There were even a few hugs. Mostly though, there was congratulations.
Upon recognition, the guys were doted upon for their most recent win over Virginia Tech, and for their record-breaking season. It was immediately clear the indirect impact these players have on the Carolina community. Humbly accepting these praises, each player gave gracious thanks, somewhat taken aback by the excitement. Even if they weren't recognized by name, the uniform itself sparked delight within people, and conversations just flowed from there.
After a weekend of travel, physical toll and emotional highs and lows, it was rewarding for the players to see their impact on the community, from the bottom up. The recipients of these meals are people who are confined to their houses, and therefore cannot leave to go to games or tailgate or even display their pride around town on any old day of the week. Despite this, these people find joy in living in this college town, find joy in the successes of this college and find joy in knowing that they support and are supported by this college no matter what.
The University of the People may be elite when it comes to getting in, in terms of test scores and extracurriculars, may be elite in terms of their athletic teams and graduation rate, but the elitist sentiment stops there. No one within the University of North Carolina system, be they professor, athlete, or regular student, has an air of being better surrounding them; not one person denies that this community is powerful.
Four football players, having given four years to this institution, have gotten four years back from it, are not just part of the university. These players are part of the community, and as this season of giving begins in earnest, they better understand their impact and better understand just what it means to give and give back.
Players Mentioned
