UA-Cossatot men’s hoops team helps out church food pantry
De QUEEN, Ark. — The University of Arkansas-Cossatot Community College men’s basketball team is working to stay involved in their community during the offseason.
Head Coach Robert Byrd and his squad helped unload food at the De Queen Church of Christ food pantry on Monday.
The Rev. Toney Stowers said the team’s help was very much needed, as they have been having a tough time unloading items to their pantry as of late.
“We run a food pantry that hands out every other Tuesday in De Queen, and in an average month, we’ll help over 175,200 families,” Stowers said. “When COVID first started and school was out, I had plenty of help. Our congregation had a lot of teachers, coaches, things like that. But now that school’s back in and coaches are occupied, the last couple of unloads have been a struggle.”
After attending a meeting at Cossatot, Stowers found the help he’d been looking for in the Colts’ coach and team.
“I was just so impressed with Coach Byrd and his team,” Stowers said. “I got with him and he was excited to do it. And I tell you, those young men had it done in no time. Very polite, couldn’t speak more highly of them.”
From Byrd’s perspective, he and his team were simply returning the favor.
“Essentially, all we were doing was providing some muscle,” Byrd said. ”The local churches have been extremely supportive, De Queen Church of Christ included. They asked for a little bit of assistance to unload the trucks, and we just had a few players show up and provide some assistance, as they do for us.”
Byrd said the Colts welcome
any and all community service opportunities, as it’s a priority for the team to help out locally.
“When I got the job back in May and I was interviewing returning players, I asked them what was their most positive experience about being at Cossatot last year,” he said.
“I essentially had 100% of the players say just the community support and community love.
“And that’s something that
has to be organic, as far as community support goes. It’s not something that’s just easily given to programs and different entities. So, we just really wanted to focus on making sure that we give back as well and provide any service or help. It gives our student-athletes an opportunity to understand that yeah, you’re here to get an education and play basketball, but we are here to serve the community, as well.”