BPC Softball collects canned food, donations for God’s Storehouse

The Lady Barons Softball team delivers 1,200 cans to God’s Storehouse Nov. 8 as a result of a three-day canned food drive in Mount Vernon, Vidalia and Lyons. (Photos provided)

By Kelley M. Arnold

Director of News and Public Information

MOUNT VERNON—The Brewton-Parker College Lady Barons Softball Team delivered 1,200 cans and donated $450 to God’s Storehouse of Vidalia Nov. 8 after three days of collecting food at the Piglet in Mount Vernon, Harveys and Wal-Mart in Vidalia, and Thriftway in Lyons. The Lady Barons worked for three hours in the afternoon Nov. 3-5, according to Marissa Brown of Vidalia, a BPC student and Lady Barons teammate.

“Every teammate worked!” exclaimed Brown. “After day one, we raised 536 cans and $270. Day two (including day one), we raised a total of 987 cans and almost $400. By the end of the third day, we raised about 1,200 cans and $450.”

The Lady Barons Softball teammates unload donated canned food for God’s Storehouse.

“My goal, honestly, was about 500 cans,” Brown continued. “It was incredible to see the support of the community after the first day. Raising over 500 cans in one day was just incredible! I believe that this was not only an encouragement to me but to my teammates as well. The team seemed to have a lot of fun serving the community.”

Freshman Courtni Fritts was proud to participate in this first canned food drive by the Lady Barons Softball team.

“I was excited that we got so many cans in the few days that we did the drive, and I was excited to see the team getting along and having fun while doing something for the community.”

Senior Heather Snyder was also touched by how much the community supported the drive.

Donated canned food collected by the Lady Barons Nov. 3-5.

“The first day was amazing! People wanted to help from all angles, and it was neat to see how much people care. I was very proud of our team,” said Snyder, adding, “Our final results didn’t really surprise me because I know how great something can be when people work together.”

Coach Jason Bryant added, “I’m really proud of our young ladies. They have sacrificed a lot of time and effort for this endeavor. They work without complaining.”

              Brown and her teammates organized the food drive with the help of Eric DePratter, a member of the college’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM), which also assisted in providing the student-athletes dinner on the days of the canned food drive. The students counted and boxed the cans after each day of collection in the Briscoe Center, the home of BCM on campus.

              Brewton-Parker College is the only accredited four-year Christian college in south Georgia.