Buffs celebrate MLK Day in service

MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Jan. 20, 2020) – Members of Milligan College athletics teams spent Monday serving the community as a way to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The Buffs joined together through several community service projects. Men's teams went to Boones Creek Christian Church, where they partnered with Kids Against Hunger and packed over 86,000 meals. Members of Milligan's volleyball team also worked locally, helping construct houses with Holston Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, Milligan softball spent time at Washington County Johnson City Animal Center assisting their staff and caring for animals without a home.

"We love partnering with Boones Creek Christian Church and Kids Against Hunger to serve in this way," women's basketball coach Rich Aubrey said. Aubrey spent the morning with the men's teams helping pack meals. "It is such a great opportunity to serve others. This type of event is an important part of what it means to be a student-athlete at Milligan."

Each project is part of Milligan's commitment to servant-leadership, an emphasis in Martin Luther King Jr.'s life. The projects also are part of Milligan's ongoing commitment to the NAIA Champions of Character program and its five core values of respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship.

"MLK Day of Service is intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems and move us closer to Dr. King's vision of a 'beloved community,'" volleyball coach Doneva Bays said. "What better way to honor him than to spend the day doing what he preached about: giving back! We had a great day working with Habitat for Humanity, and we are thankful for the opportunity to give back to our community."