Swimming's Erin Murphy: The Spirit of Giving Back
Feb 11 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Erin Murphy, a senior on the women's swimming team, has never forgotten the feeling of giving back.
As an eight-year-old, she recalled being in Florida with her family following the passing of her grandmother.
"We were giving away things of my grandmother's that were no longer needed," Murphy remembered as the family went to donate items in an area with a large homeless population.
"I was able to see these people receive some of my grandmother's belongings and see how grateful many of the people were to get these items. I remember thinking how really good it felt to help people who didn't have much and were in need. Seeing looks on people's faces was something that felt really good."
That's the feeling the Galloway, New Jersey native remembered when after a trip into New York City gave the Murphy family an idea that has carried on for the last five years.
Murphy was accompanying her theater-loving sister and their mother for a show in the city all those years ago. Seeing a familiar sight in any urban neighborhood, the trio noticed several people living on the street. What particularly struck a chord was how the winter weather was affecting them.
"Walking around in the freezing cold, you can't even imagine how people are out there without proper clothing and things," said Murphy.
For her daughters looking to get into community service, mom Diana Murphy saw this as an excellent learning opportunity for them to help those less fortunate. Now, it has become a yearly passion.
The family project started with collecting blankets and five years later the Murphy household has dedicated a portion of their living room for stacks of blankets from family, friends, neighbors and basically anyone wanting to join them in lending a hand for its yearly donation to help keep those without a dedicated place to call home warm during the winter months. Lately, there have been as many as 300 blankets at a time rolled up at the Murphy house ready for donation.
When the process started the Murphy's researched where their collection could be beneficial. Their search brought them to the Unforgotten Haven.
"We had visited a couple of different places, but then we found The Unforgotten Haven," Murphy explained. "They have 20 plus groups that focus on helping people. Obviously, my family was focusing on the homeless project group. We met with them and they were just amazing. They allow us to see where our donations are going and we get to see the reaction in people's faces when they receive those blankets. What we have been able to do goes a long way."
The "Blanket Angels" as Murphy, her mom and sister Abigail have been dubbed have made it their yearly to give back. The challenges of balancing being a student and a Division I athlete in the Big Ten and even the CoVID-19 pandemic has not swayed Murphy on her annual quest to help.
Murphy joins her younger sister with the responsibility of getting the word out that it is collection time and on the occasions she's home during downtime from the classroom and the pool, she is willing to drive around and help in the collection.
"I really like seeing the looks on people's faces and like giving back," Murphy continually emphasized. "It's something that really makes me feel good and like I just like doing that."
With that being said, it should not be surprising that Murphy is pursuing a degree in public health.
"Being a part of the public health major and doing this project, I feel like it gives me more knowledge about how certain populations are affected more than others," she revealed in her goal of becoming a physician's assistant.
The senior will be wrapping up her career in the upcoming weeks at the Big Ten Championships, but while this Scarlet Knight's next chapter in life will begin, there will always be the drive to give back.
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