One could say Leroy Fontaine of the Saint Mary’s Huskies football team took the ball and ran with it when getting his teammates to volunteer at the Parker Street Food Bank and Furniture Bank.
After being approached by head coach Steve Sumarah, Fontaine gathered a dozen or so teammates on Thursday to participate at the annual Christmas Turkey Dinner Hamper Campaign at the food bank on Maynard Street.
“I noticed what it can do for people,” Fontaine, a linebacker, said of the campaign and why they wanted to be involved. “It’s a good feeling. It’s good to give back.”
Members of the football team — along with dozens of other volunteers — could be found packing boxes with Christmas dinners and carrying them outside for much of the morning.
“Coming from public housing, I want to give back,” said teammate Jeremy Nichole, who is also a linebacker. “I know that some people are better off than others and it’s good to come here and help people who are less fortunate than us.”
The annual campaign sees volunteers from around HRM give out Christmas dinners to the needy.
The food bank was packed with hundreds of people inside and out, waiting in line for their dinners.
An estimated 700 hampers were expected to be given out.
“It’s something that gives us real joy when so many people are willing to get involved with us, to make great things happen,” food bank executive director Mel Boutilier said.
