MIAMI SHORES, Fla.--The Barry University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) donated 2,604 items to Women in Distress of Fort Lauderdale in conjunction with the Sunshine State Conference E.L.I.T.E SAAC donation competition. Each SSC member institution was given the challenge to pick a local organization and donate items applicable to the organization throughout the academic year. The Barry University SAAC chose Women in Distress of Fort Lauderdale as their organization.
Throughout 2008-09 student-athletes donated non perishable food, clothing and house wares to the organization. In December, 591 non perishable food items were delivered just in time for the holidays. An end of the year effort to donate clothing came by putting boxes in the lobbies of the dorms to collect any unwanted clothing from the student body. The boxes were in the dorms for a week and collected 2,013 articles of clothing and house wares making the grand total to 2,604. The delivery of over 2,000 items filled up 44 boxes and required a 15-passenger van to transport.
Although the Bucs donated 2,604 items, Barry University came in second place for the SSC SAAC donation competition. Lynn University finished first, while Florida Tech came in third.
“The student-athletes put a lot of effort into donating items to Women in Distress,” Maryanne Simkulak, assistant director of athletics, said. “The response of donations from the student body was amazing. Women in Distress were very appreciative when we drove up in a van full of clothing for them.”
