Nov. 9, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Approximately 30 members of the Nittany Lion football team used the first day of the bye week as an opportunity to volunteer in the State College community.
Four different groups participated in community service activities at the Centre Furnace Mansion, State College Food Bank, Youth Service Bureau House and Life Link.
The volunteers helped with a wide range of activities, including landscaping, organizing canned foods for donation and painting.
"It's really important to get out and help folks in the community," said freshman quarterback Tommy Stevens. "I think it's important to give back to the community because of the position that we are in. It makes a big difference for the team and community when we get out and participate in events like this."
"It's great to give back. We truly enjoy doing events like this because it means a lot to give back to other people when we have the chance," said freshman wide receiver Brandon Polk.
Because the annual United Way Day of Caring fell on a game week earlier this fall, the Nittany Lions wanted to use the bye week as an opportunity to give back in several areas around the State College community.
"We need to help people out with service any time that we can, so with it being the bye week, we had some extra time and we wanted to be out helping others. It's very important to help your local community," said freshman cornerback John Reid.
Core value No. 1 for Penn State Football is to compete in everything you do. That is evident on the practice field every day. It's also evident at community service endeavors.
"We are out with our friends, and we honestly enjoy it. It's great to be a little competitive about it, but we enjoy being out here with one another while giving back," said Polk.
The Nittany Lions take the responsibility of giving back to the community very seriously. The 30 student-athletes jumped at the opportunity to spend time with one another while giving back to the community.
"I love doing things for other people. It just makes you feel great to do things for others, and personally, it is a lot of fun to be out in the community," Polk said.
"As football players, it's really important to do way more than just that, we want to get out and help the community in any way that we can. Guys really do enjoy it," said Reid.
The Nittany Lions return to the practice field on Tuesday of the bye week in preparation for the home finale against Michigan on Nov. 21.