BALTIMORE, Md. – Several Coppin State student-athletes had a great time decorating Halloween trick-or-treat bags and filling them with glo-sticks, snacks and beverages for the patients at the Ronald McDonald House Charities with their families Tuesday evening.
The event was organized by the Coppin State Student Volunteer Corps.
“It means a lot to be a group leader for the RMHC,” Coppin State senior volleyball standout Chelsee Sauni said. “I’ve done an orientation at the house and was able to tour it. Knowing what the patients and families are going through and being able to take a small load off of their shoulders is something I cherish.”
The student-athletes took a small break from the hustle and bustle of practices and classes to make a difference. There was joy on the face of women’s basketball player Amber Griffin while she was decorating a bag and excitement in the eyes of Michael James as he cut out patterns that were going to be placed on the bags.
Sauni was happy to see many from different teams come together as one.
“Having some of the student-athletes participate makes me excited,” Sauni said. “Sometimes I feel like we all get caught up in the grind so I feel like being able to bring them out helps them forget about workouts and relieve their stresses by engaging in arts and crafts while preparing snacks for kids who are fighting a battle of their own.”
The bags will be delivered next week by members of the Coppin State Student Volunteer Corps. The purpose of the organization is to provide volunteer service in the Coppin, North and West Baltimore communities as well in the Downtown area and to execute non-profit/charitable activities.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities is a non-profit organization that depends on volunteers and donations to help run the house. The snack bags are a special treat for the patients preparing to go through treatments or coming back from a long day of treatments. The bags could also serve as a treat for the families when they are waiting at the hospital or helping out.
“We decided on a Halloween theme for the bags since it’s coming soon and some of them may not be able to go trick or treating,” Sauni said. “I can only imagine how happy a child battling an illness would feel after receiving a small treat like this.”