NJCAA National Office staff gives back for #NJCAADay
The NJCAA National Office Staff took to Second Harvest Food Bank to sort and stock items for those in need within the Charlotte community
Written by Bailey Sherrill - Executive Assistant to the CEO & Board of Regents
Charlotte, NC – Boxes printed with Del Monte bananas and The Gerber Baby dotted the warehouse floor of Second Harvest Food Bank. Front-end loaders careened down narrow aisles, tires squeaking. Volunteers lined long tables, sporting badges and singing to Motown music overhead. Among those sorting, organizing, and singing were members of the NJCAA National Office Staff.
In September 2018, Charlotte, NC became the official home of the NJCAA National Headquarters. Called "The Queen City," our town represents roughly 870,000 people, 14 institutions of higher ed., the nation's third-largest financial center, three professional sports arenas, and a healthy network of nightlife and small-businesses. However, beneath the inner-city buzz, 14.9 percent of our city falls below the poverty line according to the 2018 U.S. Census Bureau Report.
Today, October 17th marks NJCAA Day. It's a day created to highlight our member colleges and their involvement in their communities. So, the National Office made it a point to lead by example. To do this, the team served an afternoon stocking shift at Second Harvest Food Bank.
As a regional distribution hub for 19 counties across the state, Second Harvest collects donations, provides awareness of the hunger epidemic, and advocates to eradicate it through stocking charitable orgs across the state. The majority of its donations come from Charlottean businesses and so do its volunteers. The NJCAA was proud to join that number.
In the words of Chief Sport, Membership, and Event Officer Kim Whitestone, "Our time at Second Harvest was great because it allowed us to get to know others, see what's currently underway in the city, and show others that we are here, in Charlotte."
Giving back to the very community that supports our work matters to our team. After all, it's our home. We take a sense of ownership in it and responsibility for it. We joined hands with Second Harvest to help where there was – and still is – a need.
But it's more than just taking care of the city. It is, more importantly, about the people. People is what our work at the NJCAA National Office has always been about. We are in the business of support and service. We take pride in promoting and creating opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches, A.D.s and member colleges at large. We scream and yell and whoop for each of you because we care. We care about serving and supporting you.
That is why, when it came to our community, we were proud to roll up our sleeves and serve on diaper duty. Hardships come in all kind of shapes and sizes, after all.
