In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, schools across the nation will close for the federal holiday offering students a 3-day weekend to ease into the new year.
Yet, for the teachings of Dr. King, who pledged his life to the struggle against racial segregation and racism, and in whose name the holiday signifies the ongoing pursuit of equal rights, the true meaning of the holiday can be lost in the joy of a day off from school.
Observed for the first time in 1986, the King holiday eventually grew into an opportunity and a challenge for Americans to volunteer service for those in need.
The “Hoops from the Heart” event has been a Delaware County staple since its induction in 2002. It’s grown from an event held at Haverford High School by girls basketball Coach Bobbi Morgan to currently featuring four Division III colleges in the area – Haverford College, Cabrini University, Widener University and Neumann University.
Students who participate in the camp are each asked to bring one non-perishable food item that with the $30 buy-in is donated directly to the Delaware County Community Action Agency.
“The schools were always closed, back in the day we didn’t even have practice,” Morgan said, adding that Mary Beth Lauer, Public Relations coordinator for Haverford Township School District, suggested hosting a clinic to raise money for a local agency.
“I didn’t want it to be a national agency where the donations would go through a million hands, we wanted it to be impactful to our surrounding area,” Morgan said.
Joining with Debbie Brodeur, who currently acts as consultant to the CAA and event coordinator for Hoops from the Heart, brainstormed the original event with Morgan in 2002 and has helmed the donations distribution ever since.
“It started out small with one school and then we started expanding,” Brodeur said.
To date, Hoops from the Heart has raised more than $114,000 for the CAA along with the countless food donations that directly restock the shelves of food shelters at the Life Center of Eastern Delaware County, which provides a feeding program that every night provides a dinner to any person, 365 days a year, and to the Wesley House in Chester, which offers temporary shelter to families in need.
She said the food pantries are often depleted as the donations dwindle following the holidays, but Hoops from the Heart has provided a means to support local pantries and shelters into the new year.
“It’s a good opportunity for the kids to come to a basketball clinic to learn basketball skills, sportsmanship and team playing from young adults who can be mentors and set an example,” Brodeur said. “I go around with County Council every year and we talk to the students about Martin Luther King, what he meant to people and what he stood for.”
Chuck Sack, the athletic director for Neumann University, said the clinics align perfectly with the Franciscan values of reverence, integrity, service, excellence and stewardship.
“This was a no-brainer, it fit within our values of how (student athletes) might be able to serve someone even through the vehicle of basketball,” Sack said. “You’ll see kids light up by having a personal relationship with a college basketball player. That sense of pride is what makes this such a great event.”
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