USF Athletics

USF Athletic Teams Join Forces for Feed-A-Bull Food Drive

November 26, 2020

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, NOV. 26, 2020 – USF Athletics jumped at the opportunity to help those in need this holiday season and beyond by joining forces among teams and staff to donate an eye-catching total of 1,742 items during the Feed-A-Bull Food Drive organized by the USF Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Food items and toiletries flowed into designated team and staff donation boxes at the Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center from Nov. 4-20 and all donations went directly to the USF Food Pantry and Feed-A-Bull program on the Tampa campus.

"Proud would be an understatement. Even while enduring so many of their own disappointments as they navigate the pandemic, our student-athletes were focused on finding ways to give back to others," said Dr. Jodie Libadisos, USF's Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Enhancement and a SAAC advisor. "They wanted to do something that directly impacted our own community and paid it forward. It has been so fulfilling to watch true leadership in action!"

USF student-athletes were happy to be assisted by their respective coaching staffs during the important service initiative that turned into a friendly goodwill competition between athletic programs. Head coach Jose Fernandez's women's basketball team earned bragging rights among the Bulls by collecting the most donation items. Head coach Jolene Shepardson's volleyball program took second place and was followed by the USF men's soccer team led by head coach Bob Butehorn.

"I'm so proud of everyone's participation in the drive, especially with the circumstances of this year," said USF SAAC Co-President and softball outfielder Meghan Sheehan. "I am really looking forward to many more in the future and to hopefully making this an annual tradition."

The Feed-A-Bull Food Pantry on USF's Tampa campus certainly appreciates this year's offerings that will help provide supplemental items to students in need throughout the remainder of the fall semester and into the spring.

"It was so incredible to see an idea turn into a reality. During the pandemic, we felt it was so important to find service opportunities to show that we are #OneUSF and that Athletics stands with our community," said men's cross country/track & field student-athlete Ben Kailes. "We hope to do this again next year and to build upon what we achieved in year one."

Even with 1,742 items donated by USF Athletics providing lots of assistance, there's still plenty of opportunities for the community to contribute to a great cause. USF recognizes that due to COVID-19, students may have reduced work income and decreased avenues for food throughout the pandemic. Humanitarian efforts at the Tampa location also are taking place at food pantries on USF's Sarasota-Manatee and St. Petersburg campuses. Find out how you can donate to a USF campus near you HERE.
 
About USF Athletics
USF Athletics sponsors 19 varsity men's and women's teams that compete in 11 different sports, 18 at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls' athletic program began in 1965 and is in its 55th season in 2020-21. Nearly 450 student-athletes train and compete in the athletic district located on the east end of the campus in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls have claimed 19 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013, and own 120 conference titles overall. The Bulls posted a combined annual grade-point average over 3.0 for the fifth straight year in 2019-20 and have posted a program record 11 straight semesters with a combined GPA over 3.0. USF has had nearly 350 student-athletes earn their degree since 2016-17.
 
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