Softball Team Pitches In for SFX Pantry

For the hitters on Rockhurst University’s Hawks softball team, a can ‘o corn is usually something to be avoided.

But recently, they couldn’t get enough of cans of corn, beans, and other nonperishables, as members of the team asked fans to contribute food items as the price of admission their game to benefit the St. Francis Xavier Parish food pantry.

Head Coach Heidi Jordan said she suggested the team use some back to back scrimmages as an opportunity for a service project. Junior shortstop Maya Gallagher said the players took the ball and ran with it.

“She mentioned wanting to ‘charge admission’ into our fall home scrimmages by asking fans to bring items that we could donate somewhere local,” she said.

They chose St. Francis Xavier, in part because of their location and existing relationship with Rockhurst University.

“We felt that this was a way we could directly aid our community, seeing as the church is literally right across the street from campus and that the food pantry gives to local families in need,” Gallagher said.

Jordan said players took the initiative to publicize the drive on social media and made contact with staff at St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuit parish across the street from campus. The Hawks also asked their opponents — Baker University and Johnson County Community College — to partner up to get the word out. It worked.

“We were able to collect over 450 items for the food pantry,” due to the support of fans and players, Gallagher said. “Sue Robb and Becca Jackson from St. Francis were ecstatic at how much we were able to collect.”

The team delivered the food — which included canned goods, dry pasta, rice, side dishes and more — to the church last week. And Gallagher said she hopes that trip was just the beginning.

“We do plan on doing more service within the Kansas City community over the course of the next few months and would love to make a tradition out of collecting for food drives at plenty of home games in the future,” she said.