University of North Carolina Athletics
GoHeels Exclusive: Bringing Smiles
September 26, 2018 | Women's Basketball, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
Before holding their first official practice of the 2018-19 season on Wednesday, members of the North Carolina women's basketball team took some time Tuesday afternoon to visit with people displaced by Hurricane Florence.
Working with the Governor's Office, the American Red Cross and the State Emergency Management Team, UNC opened the Friday Center as a shelter on Sept. 15. It's still housing about 50 hurricane victims almost two weeks later.
In that span, members of the Carolina men's basketball team, pep band, cheerleading squad and dance team have frequented the shelter. Rameses also visited. Tuesday, seven women's basketball players stopped by, with hopes of brightening the days of those affected by the storm.
"It's very encouraging to see what's important to my teammates," said Leah Church, a sophomore guard and one of the organizers of the visit. "And to be able to give back to those affected by the hurricane, I think it's very important because we're so blessed and others aren't as fortunate as we are."
For almost an hour and a half, the players distributed blue and white pompoms, children's books and UNC lanyards. They also autographed team posters and posed for pictures.
At one table, children joined some of the players for arts and crafts. Half of the players helped make beaded bracelets and necklaces. The others drew and cut out pumpkins and other objects on orange construction paper.
Eventually, the players had to leave for class. But Church said she felt like her and her teammates had accomplished something by bringing smiles to the children's faces.
"Interacting with the kids and just making their day (was the highlight)," Church said. "And as I was leaving, they said, 'We so enjoyed spending time with you all.' And I think that was an awesome thing to hear."
Before holding their first official practice of the 2018-19 season on Wednesday, members of the North Carolina women's basketball team took some time Tuesday afternoon to visit with people displaced by Hurricane Florence.
Working with the Governor's Office, the American Red Cross and the State Emergency Management Team, UNC opened the Friday Center as a shelter on Sept. 15. It's still housing about 50 hurricane victims almost two weeks later.
In that span, members of the Carolina men's basketball team, pep band, cheerleading squad and dance team have frequented the shelter. Rameses also visited. Tuesday, seven women's basketball players stopped by, with hopes of brightening the days of those affected by the storm.
"It's very encouraging to see what's important to my teammates," said Leah Church, a sophomore guard and one of the organizers of the visit. "And to be able to give back to those affected by the hurricane, I think it's very important because we're so blessed and others aren't as fortunate as we are."
For almost an hour and a half, the players distributed blue and white pompoms, children's books and UNC lanyards. They also autographed team posters and posed for pictures.
At one table, children joined some of the players for arts and crafts. Half of the players helped make beaded bracelets and necklaces. The others drew and cut out pumpkins and other objects on orange construction paper.
Eventually, the players had to leave for class. But Church said she felt like her and her teammates had accomplished something by bringing smiles to the children's faces.
"Interacting with the kids and just making their day (was the highlight)," Church said. "And as I was leaving, they said, 'We so enjoyed spending time with you all.' And I think that was an awesome thing to hear."
Players Mentioned
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