St. Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (MIAC SAAC) partnered with Rebuilding Together-Twin Cities this past Saturday, April 24 as 22 student-athletes helped in a home renovation project in North Minneapolis.
The student-athletes took a day away from their studies and sports to install drywall and do a variety of home repair projects at the site. The MIAC SAAC's effort assisted in the process of completely remodeling the entire home and making it wheel chair accessible for the elderly homeowner.
After a recent stay in the hospital, the homeowner returned to find that his house had been broken into three times and that the majority of his belongings had been stolen. The damage done to the home during these burglaries, coupled with the age of the home, made it unlivable for the past few months. Rebuilding Together-Twin Cities has stepped in and has been working feverishly with a variety of volunteers to finish the remodeling project.
Working on this project hit close to home for Bethel football student-athlete Josh Wolfe, "This was a great experience and we made a lot of progress today. My grandmother has diabetes and she went through a similar medical situation as the homeowner. As a Vietnam vet, I wanted to help the homeowner and give back to him since he spent part of his life giving to our country.”
The combination of helping out the community and learning some new skills made the day special for Hamline volleyball student-athlete Alex Anderson. “I thought this was a great experience, especially giving back to the community, because I feel so fortunate as a student-athlete. It feels good to give back to people less fortunate," said Anderson. She added, "At first I didn’t know how to do some of the things we helped with today like sheet rocking and mudding, but I came away with these new, great skills!”
MIAC Assistant Director and event organizer Brittany Feser summed up the project, “I thought the student-athletes did a great job jumping in, working hard, and taking initiative, especially when most had never done this type of work before. They all learned very quickly and the work ethic that makes them great students and athletes was evident."
"For the second year in a row, I feel the project coordinators at Rebuilding Together were pleased with the fact that the MIAC group accomplished more than what was originally planned for the day. We hope to continue working with Rebuilding Together-Twin Cities for years to come,” added Feser.
About Rebuilding Together
The mission of Rebuilding Together Twin Cities is to bring volunteers and communities together to improve the homes and lives of low-income homeowners. This service ensures that these homeowners – particularly older adults, individuals living with disabilities, and families with children – live independently in homes that are safe, warm and dry. An affiliate of the national Rebuilding Together organization, Rebuilding Together Twin Cities has been preserving and revitalizing homes and communities in the metropolitan area since 1997.
About the MIAC SAAC
The MIAC SAAC supports student-athletes by providing the communication of ideas and concerns between student-athletes and the MIAC within a structure that will promote active involvement. The MIAC SAAC is also committed to engaging in campus and community service projects and to serving as positive role models for their peers and younger student-athletes.
The MIAC SAAC has representatives from each of the 13 MIAC member institutions: Augsburg College, Bethel University, Carleton College, Concordia College-Moorhead, Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University, Macalester College, the College of Saint Benedict, St. Catherine University, Saint John's University, Saint Mary's University, St. Olaf College, and the University of St. Thomas.
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