On Friday, November 15 against Wells College, the D'Youville College men's basketball team not only earned their first win of the season, but worked together to help out local community members.
In association with the Muslim Student Association, the men's basketball team welcomed in youth members of the West Side Community Services to not only play at halftime of their game against Wells, but helped organize a food drive for local families. Food items were donated in exchange for raffle tickets to win prizes, highlighted by Buffalo Bills tickets.
The nonperishable food items went to the D'Youville Campus Cupboard and West Side Community Services. In addition to the nonperishable food items, money was donated to purchase food for families in need during Thanksgiving.
"This was an outstanding event for all parties involved," said head men's basketball coach Earl Schunk. "We were thrilled to have so many people from West Side Community Services attend the game and be part of the atmosphere, as well as have several of the young men play on our court and have fans supporting and watching them have fun."
At halftime, the West Side Community Services Teen Program played a game with a great deal of excitement and an opportunity for the kids to play on a collegiate basketball court. The players formed five-on-five teams and played for seven minutes.
"From our fans to the kids, as well as the families impacted by the goods that were collected from tonight's game, there are so many people that will be positively impacted by the game," said Schunk. "So much credit is due to Halimah McBryde of the Muslim Student Association who was the driving force behind this event. It just goes to show that great things can happen when people work together."
Nearly 200 people were in attendance at the event as the men earned the 92-83 win over the Express.