Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
Members of Liberty's gymnastics team served during a DI men's hockey game at the LaHaye Ice Center last season. (Photo by Chase Reed)
Club Sports donated more than 1,500 pounds of leftover fall football concessions to Lynchburg’s Daily Bread
1/10/2024 4:39:00 PM | General
Liberty's 42 teams have benefited from their student-athletes stepping up and serving at Flames Athletics events, hockey games.
In the second year with its student-athletes teaming up to sell concessions at university Athletics events, Liberty University's Club Sports department donated more than 1,500 pounds of concession food left over from the Flames Football team's eight home games at Williams Stadium this season to the Daily Bread, which serves lunch daily to homeless and food insecure residents in downtown Lynchburg.
"We didn't get connected with them until this past fall and the previous season, we just threw it away," said Jillian Burton, who serves as Club Sports Assistant Athletic Director for concessions and the LaHaye Ice Center's Pro Shop. "(The volunteers from Daily Bread) were always so very thankful to get it so that changed our attitude about distributing it. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, popcorn, they take it all, everything that we would throw away at the end of the game."
She said offering it up to the Christian ministry was the least she and her staff and the student-athletes could do, rather than let the food go to waste.
"If someone can use it, it takes 10 minutes out of our day to pack it up and give it to them," Burton said. "We keep it all in the refrigerator and they can heat it up again down there before serving it.
The athletes help in getting it all together and getting it ready and (Daily Bread volunteers are) always very eager to come and get it, normally every Monday. They're awesome to work with."
The income Club Sports student-athletes make for their respective teams by serving behind the concession stands has become a tremendous fundraising source for many of the 42 distinct Club Sports programs, supplementing what the department receives on its annual fall Giving Day.
"We're very grateful for Liberty and the investment it has made in Club Sports and we have continued to find ways to receive additional support," Club Sports Associate Athletic Director Kyle McQuillan said.
He said Burton has done an excellent job in providing student-athletes opportunities to give back to their teams without having to do traditional fundraising.Gallery: (1-10-2024) Club Sports concessions
"Jillian came in when concessions was just a small thing we did primarily for hockey," he said, noting that Club Sports now serves Flames Football, men's and women's basketball, swimming, and indoor track & field events as well as football and band competitions for the Virginia High School League. "Every time it's expanded, she'll take anything that we'll give her and has plans for more expansion and growth and sales ideas in the future."
"We didn't get connected with them until this past fall and the previous season, we just threw it away," said Jillian Burton, who serves as Club Sports Assistant Athletic Director for concessions and the LaHaye Ice Center's Pro Shop. "(The volunteers from Daily Bread) were always so very thankful to get it so that changed our attitude about distributing it. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, popcorn, they take it all, everything that we would throw away at the end of the game."
She said offering it up to the Christian ministry was the least she and her staff and the student-athletes could do, rather than let the food go to waste.
"If someone can use it, it takes 10 minutes out of our day to pack it up and give it to them," Burton said. "We keep it all in the refrigerator and they can heat it up again down there before serving it.
The athletes help in getting it all together and getting it ready and (Daily Bread volunteers are) always very eager to come and get it, normally every Monday. They're awesome to work with."
The income Club Sports student-athletes make for their respective teams by serving behind the concession stands has become a tremendous fundraising source for many of the 42 distinct Club Sports programs, supplementing what the department receives on its annual fall Giving Day.
"We're very grateful for Liberty and the investment it has made in Club Sports and we have continued to find ways to receive additional support," Club Sports Associate Athletic Director Kyle McQuillan said.
He said Burton has done an excellent job in providing student-athletes opportunities to give back to their teams without having to do traditional fundraising.
"Jillian came in when concessions was just a small thing we did primarily for hockey," he said, noting that Club Sports now serves Flames Football, men's and women's basketball, swimming, and indoor track & field events as well as football and band competitions for the Virginia High School League. "Every time it's expanded, she'll take anything that we'll give her and has plans for more expansion and growth and sales ideas in the future."
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