Tech football teams up with Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana to beat hunger
JANUARY 17, 2023 / KYLELPJ
Members of the Bulldog football program helped hand out lunches to members and nonmembers of the Boys and Girls Clubs of North LA. (Courtesy photo)
By T. Scott Boatright
More than 50 Louisiana Tech football players came through in the clutch — a time of need — as the city of Ruston celebrated Martin Luther King Day this past Monday, Jan. 16.
Lincoln Parish Schools were out for the holiday, but the Bulldogs pitched in to hand out lunches to children living on the East end of our Ruston community.
“That’s why we did it, because this would have been the third straight day the children were out of school, and we know that the food insecurity in low-income housing areas is real… and it is heartbreaking,” said Janet Wilson, Director of Development for the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana.
“(LA Tech football coach) Sonny Cumbie had contacted (BGC director) Eldonte (Osborne) a few weeks ago saying he wanted his players to assist in helping pass out food on this great day of service. We know there are people out there struggling to buy groceries and to buy gas for their cars. There are communities in our area that truly need us now more than ever with the economic situation we’re living in today.”
There were 125 lunches prepared in the kitchen of the BGC Memorial site, led by Director of Food Services, Monique Johnson.
“I volunteered to work on my holiday and get in there early this morning and make all of those lunches with the help of Daphne Bryant because we love these children,” Johnson said.
Osborne, a former star linebacker at Louisiana Tech (and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana), expressed his appreciation for the team effort.
“Service is what we do every day at the BGC,” Osborne said. “Today it was an honor to serve with the Tech football team.”
The Tech football players passed out lunches at The Blue Gym at Greenwood Park, and the surrounding neighborhood, as well as at Zion Traveler Baptist Church and its surrounding neighborhoods.
North Louisiana Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors member Wilbert Ellis, a College Baseball Hall of Fame Coach from Grambling State University, talked to the LA Tech football players and coaches.
“This is what it’s all about – a community coming together to look out for its own,” Ellis said “I can’t say enough about the Louisiana Tech football team and the entire Lincoln Parish community for coming through and doing the right thing for the youth of our parish.”