As point guard for Allen Community Colleges basketball team, Perry Carroll has been a key contributor to the Red Devils 11-3 start, by leading the squad in scoring and assists.
But as much as he has enjoyed the camaraderie with his teammates on the court, hes developed a bond with another local team, a small-but-hearty troupe of St. Timothys Episcopal Church volunteers.
This is the third consecutive year members of St. Timothys have stepped forward to provide both lunch and dinner to ACC athletes while the campus is closed for winter break. (The athletes are allowed to stay in their dorms, but the ACC cafeteria remains closed until classes resume Jan.13.)
The group of athletes is relatively small at the start. Only the mens and womens basketball teams are back on campus before their season resumes next week. They reported back in Iola on Thursday, the same days the church began dishing out its meals.
But in the span of a few days, the track, cheer and then baseball and softball members will return to campus before the spring semester opens.
That means, St. Timothys will feed roughly 120 athletes, twice daily, by the time the break concludes, estimates Candy Sifers, one of the volunteers integral in the meals program.
Its fun because some of these kids well get to know over a couple of years, Sifers said. Theyre always polite, they always say thank you, and theyre always grateful.
And if need be, the athletes chip in by cleaning off tables, taking out trash or helping with other tasks during the meals.
ST. TIMOTHYS has partnered with the college for more than seven years, first to feed the Red Devil cross country members when they would arrive for fall practices.
Since then, the church has opened its doors to the other team members, regardless of when the breaks occur during the school year.
This is the third straight year, St. Timothys hosts students before the fall semester opens, during Thanksgiving and winter breaks, and again at Spring Break for the baseball and softball teams.
The menus vary from day to day, and typically feature home-cooked casseroles, soups and other entrees.
When possible, meals are prepared days in advance, Sifers noted.
She and fellow church members Marsha Burris and Donna Sifers, the St. Timothys outreach director, are the key players in the meals effort.
