By Catherine Sheffo
Three area families will have an exciting surprise under the tree for Christmas this week, thanks to the University of Maryland women's basketball team.
The team and its support staff participated in an “adopt-a-family” program for the first time this year, purchasing Christmas presents for three families, all with several children. Athletic trainer Megan Rogers helped find the program to adopt the families.
“I think especially with basketball every one of our athletes is on a full scholarship and they are fortunate enough to have a lot of meals provided for them,” Rogers said. “It's good for them to have perspective.”
The team tries to give back at least once during the holidays, a significant challenge considering that it averages two to three games per week, travel time not included. Last year, players volunteered at a food pantry.
Rogers and other staff members started working on the project about a month ago, first finding families and then creating posters of wish lists divided by person and present so that everyone could participate regardless of their budget. From there, players and staff members signed up for gifts and got to work.
Sophomore guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough went shopping for one mother who wanted scented lotion and her eight-year old son who wished for a winter hat.
“It was fun,” she said. “My mom's a big Bath and Body Works person so she was on speaker phone saying 'You have to get her the right stuff!'”
She left with both lotion and bath gel in two different scents and goodies for the young boy as well. Several of the players made a day of it, taking a trip to the mall to go to Target and several other stores.
For Walker-Kimbrough, the families remind her of her own holiday traditions that she left behind when she came to play at Maryland.
“Usually every Christmas my mom and I fed the homeless on Christmas Day,” she said. “It's always good to do something additional.”
The players and staff members met before finals to wrap all the presents and all were delivered last week.
Junior center Malina Howard went shopping for a Baltimore Ravens hoodie, although she didn't sign up fast enough to buy the Frozen doll she had her eye on as well.
“It's a great way to give back during the holiday season,” Howard said. “We always try to find something to do for those that aren't as fortunate as we are."
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