Women’s Lacrosse Keeps Coming Back

Holy Cross students are known to be active members in the Worcester community. Many students volunteer around the city, whether it is through the school"s Community Based Learning Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass., or participating in the UMass Walk to Cure Cancer. For the women's lacrosse team here at Holy Cross, its focal service opportunity is through the Catholic Charities Food Pantry and Worcester County Food Bank. Many Holy Cross student-athletes would agree that it is tough to find extra time outside of their rigorous academics and high-intensity sports schedules. Thus, it is noteworthy that the women's lacrosse team keeps coming back, month after month to help volunteer.

For the past five years the Holy Cross women's lacrosse team has been active volunteers at the food pantry and the food bank here in Worcester. The team volunteers at these locations at least once a month. Stephanie Ridolfi, head coach of the women's lacrosse team got involved with the food pantry through player Annie Boylan '11. "Annie is the one that initially got women's lacrosse involved with Catholic Charities," said Ridolfi. "It started with an annual turkey run and turned into a monthly service opportunity. It was just once a year where the team would unload an enormous truck of turkeys but I'm happy to see that it has become a monthly, yearly thing." Ridolfi knows their involvement with Catholic Charities has a big effect on the team and the community. "We want to give back to the community in Worcester and do our part to make sure that everyone has their basic needs met. I know a lot of the girls are shocked when they see the bare room, with nothing on the shelves before the truck comes from the food bank and fills it up. Then, seeing it afterwards filled with food is a really humbling experience."

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