Golden Eagles Give Back at "TurkeyPalooza"
11/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Academics & Compliance
About Campus Kitchens
MILWAUKEE - Student-athletes and staff of the Marquette University community volunteered a portion of their Saturday to provide 580 Thanksgiving meals for people around the Milwaukee area at the Second Annual "TurkeyPalooza" event sponsored by Campus Kitchens on Nov. 21.
Members of eight Golden Eagle teams consisting of more than 65 student-athletes and staff contributed to the great cause. For the second year in-a-row, Campus Kitchens hosted the event that gathers donated leftover food from on-campus dining services and repurposes it into meals that are distributed to the less fortunate in-and-around the community the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
Junior Alison Parker, who serves as the SAAC vice president of service and is a member of the Marquette cross country and track and field teams, was grateful for the opportunity to serve.
"I'm glad I was able to help out at TurkeyPalooza this year," Parker said. "Many of us don't have to worry about where our next meal will come from, so it was a humbling experience to make meals for the community.
"Campus Kitchens is an organization on campus that works hard year-round to provide food for individuals in the Milwaukee area. I'm glad we were able to lend a helping hand last weekend. A lot of athletes enjoyed the event and I hope the food brings smiles to many faces on Thanksgiving Day."
Redshirt sophomore Lisa Roman of the Marquette women's soccer team also contributed and wrote about the experience in her blog, "My Student-Athlete Life". She states in her post, "We are thankful for our opportunity to play soccer and to be surrounded by amazing teammates and sisters."
According to Roman's blog, meals are being distributed Monday-Wednesday, Nov. 23-25 to places such as Casa Maria Hospitality House, HeartLove Place, Centro Hispano, Milwaukee Center for Children, and Youth and many more.
The women's soccer team and both track and field and cross country programs were joined by both the men's and women's lacrosse teams in this great event, bringing joy to many and displaying Marquette University's great mission of service.
"It was really neat for so many athletes, athletic trainers and staff to spend their Saturday morning together making meals," Parker added. "Events like this where the whole athletic department is involved strengthens relationships between players of different teams and promotes unity within the department. I met some new friends at TurkeyPalooza and I know my teammates did as well."
