Men’s golf lends a hand to local community

The Thanksgiving holiday is a time that many people look forward to reconnecting with family and friends. It’s a chance to spend special moments together while sharing in the bounty of a delicious food spread.

It’s also a reminder of the countless families who are less fortunate and face food insecurity. For members of the men’s golf program, the lead up to Thanksgiving was an opportunity to assist at a local food bank that will come to serve many of those families struggling to secure a quality meal this season.

REPLENISH is a community organization working to achieve food security and provide access to nutritionally adequate food and other basic necessities to all residents in Middlesex County. Local nonprofit agencies, businesses, and organizations work together through REPLENISH to help achieve this mission. 

“To see the whole operation, it’s amazing how much that food bank has exploded,” said head men’s golf coach Rob Shutte. “The volunteers were going to replenish other pantries and they are making sacrifices to help make other people have a better Thanksgiving.”

Scarlet Knights For Life™ coordinated the opportunity for the men’s golf team to support the food bank effort. The Scarlet Knights For Life™ program and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) are focused on supporting food insecure community members through its partnership with organizations like REPLENISH.

“Student-athletes volunteer for on-campus efforts such as food drives in addition to answering volunteer requests at local agencies,” said Carey Loch, associate athletic director for student-athlete development and success. “The Scarlet Knights For Life™ program is committed to educating student-athletes about food insecurity and providing opportunities to engage in programs and events to help feed our neighbors.”

The golf program competes during both the fall and spring seasons which presents a challenge in finding routine community service opportunities that fit within their schedules. The scope of working with an organization like REPLENISH was impactful and emotionally moving for many of the student-athletes.

“It was fun to see the guy’s heads nodding as they got a greater appreciation for just the millions of pounds of food that they move now,” said Shutte. “It’s a huge operation to get food out there and what all goes into getting food on people's tables who really need it.”

Sophomore Weston Jones was one of the golfers on hand to participate in the food bank distribution effort. He and his teammates loaded vehicles that arrived at REPLENISH and were later traveling to other locations throughout Middlesex County.

“It was good for the entire team to get together,” Jones. “It was super cool to help facilitate the turkey distribution. I know we were doing a small part of the big operation but the overall operation was really good to be a part of. All of us were happy to be involved.”

As was the case for many of the golfers, it was a moment of reflection for Jones. A reminder to appreciate one’s good fortunes also find opportunities to pay it forward when possible.

“I think anytime you get to help others, it puts things in perspective,” said Jones. “Overall, the day was a huge eye opener.”

The group has worked with Habitat for Humanity and other golf-related initiatives in the past and these opportunities help to inspire the student-athletes to pursue other means to have a positive impact on their communities. Shutte impresses upon his golfers the importance of finding different volunteering avenues as a group and on their own. 

“The pandemic threw a wrinkle into what we were able to do but absolutely there is a commitment to volunteering,” said Shutte. “When you can educate guys and help people in the process it’s a great thing.”

This Thanksgiving, the golfers will have the chance to visit home and spend time with their families. The team will squeeze in a turkey trot as one of their last workouts before leaving campus. And in true Thanksgiving fashion the group will gather in a circle for a moment of reflection and share the things they are thankful for.

“Going home and seeing family is as great a gift you could ask for and be thankful for,” said Jones. “That's what Thanksgiving is about and I’m definitely looking forward to that.”