The Bryn Mawr College Basketball team recently embarked on a meaningful MLK Day of Service project, partnering with Heart to Heart Ministries to aid the Camden, N.J. community. The team's involvement in the annual soup and sandwich kitchen at Kipp High School showcased their commitment to social responsibility and community engagement.
 
Basketball Head Coach Carla Coleman believes strongly in giving back to communities through service, finding this year's MLK Day of Service project through her assistant's wife, who happens to be involved in Heart to Heart Ministries. The team's decision to support the organization was not only an opportunity to support others but also a great form of team bonding. The players and coaching staff's focus of the day was preparing sandwiches and care packages to then distribute to individuals in the area. "We donated bread, cheese, lunch meat, and chips. We made [sandwiches] while others put together care packages and soup. We then went with some of the organizers to hand [them] to the homeless, senior centers, and others in the Camden Community," says Coach Coleman.
 
Sophomore Hannah Govert, a basketball team member, expressed her enthusiasm about the event, highlighting the hands-on nature of the day, saying, "We were working with a variety of groups from around the Camden community which helped make us feel more connected" to the community itself. Hannah said directly seeing "the gratitude from the people" was the most impactful, making Hannah "really [appreciate] being able to truly connect with these community members in the streets of Camden." The team's engagement extended beyond food distribution, including "blessing bags" containing some essential toiletries and hygiene products. Overall, Hannah truly enjoyed the experience with their teammates, turning the day into a "great way to practice teamwork outside of practice." 
 
Experiences like this allow players to better understand the people around them and the communities that create the greater area. Not only does it get the team out of their comfort zone and, for some, participate in a new experience entirely, but they're participating together, creating long-lasting memories by interacting personally, all while making a difference, whether big or small. Hannah feels strongly about this, saying, "Only a couple hours of preparing bags and then handing them out was able to serve hundreds of people in the Camden community. I have been a part of service events like this before, but I think it will inspire those who haven't to try more in the future. Last year, the basketball team organized a clothing drive for our MLK Day of Service. While that was a very good and important event, I felt that this year's was more impactful because we could serve people firsthand."
 
Junior player Kris Pasia felt similarly about the experience. Kris highlighted the diverse groups involved in the event, saying, "It was impactful to see people of different backgrounds, such as kids, and [various] life experiences together to help the community." Kris emphasized the connection between community service and team dynamics and how "Participating in community service events can help improve the team dynamics on the court because it's another experience to work together as a team to accomplish a goal." 
 
While the team faced the challenge of cold temperatures, Kris mentioned, "I think being outside in the cold helped us empathize [for] people experiencing homelessness. We all had the mindset that we were there to serve people, so the cold was just a minor inconvenience." The experience of being outside in such temperatures also served as an opportunity for empathy towards those experiencing homelessness, bringing the team even closer together because "Off the court… it helps create a sense of unity since [they] are working together." 
 
For the Bryn Mawr basketball team, being a part of Heart to Heart Ministries this year enhanced their connection to the broader community. Kris explained how "Meeting a lot of groups at the event helped us make connections with people of different backgrounds and experiences. I think the event was great since we were able to meet people in the community and see the impact of our work." The Day of Service project broke the "bubble" effect often associated with small communities, a sensation more easily found on college campuses, allowing the team to make meaningful connections and witness the impact of their work firsthand. Reflecting on the day overall, Kris concluded how the experience acted as a constant reminder "That there are things that are bigger than basketball, and even though we are basketball players, we still have a social responsibility to create positive change in the world."
 
This year's MLK Day of Service project not only contributed to the well-being of the Camden community but also left a lasting impression on the Bryn Mawr College basketball team, reinforcing the importance of unity, service, and social responsibility.