One act of kindness snowballs into relay of community support for Omaha South

Monday, October 3, 2016

Andrea Saavedra-Garcia鈥檚 six years of cross-country training have taught her to go the distance. What she never expected was for one small donation to turn into a relay of giving.

Saavedra-Garcia, an Omaha native and the senior team captain of the College of St. Mary cross-country team, donated a large trash bag full of workout clothes this summer to Omaha South High鈥檚 girls鈥� cross-country team. She wanted to clean out her closet but also give back to a group of young women she could relate to.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 afford my own pairs of shoes,鈥� Saavedra-Garcia said about her high school years. 鈥淢y sister knew how bad I wanted to run track, and she worked extra hours at Hy-Vee to buy me shoes and workout clothes.鈥�

After seeing the Omaha South cross-country girls sporting her donations the following week, Saavedra-Garcia realized the need. She told teammate Briana Davis about the donation, and Davis proposed another way to give back.

Every year, each sports team at the College of St. Mary participates in a community service project as part of the college鈥檚 mission statement: respect and dignity for each person and a commitment to compassionate service. So through Oct. 14, the cross-country team is collecting sweatpants, sweatshirts, winter hats, gloves, socks and shoes for the Omaha South鈥檚 girls鈥� and boys鈥� cross-country teams.

Cross-country coach Derek Fey knew this project was a great way to help Omaha South鈥檚 team and coach, John Tripp, who was a track teammate of Fey鈥檚 at Dana College.

鈥淚 wish that I had thought of it earlier,鈥� Fey said. 鈥淭ripp has put in a lot of time and money building a track team at South.鈥�

Fey said Tripp has driven teams home from meets and purchased shoes for the team.

鈥淚鈥檒l see kids in the locker room who are missing socks or who are wearing the same workout clothes every day,鈥� Tripp said. 鈥淭he fact we will now have extra clothes is huge because there are parents who can鈥檛 afford clothes.

The College of St. Mary team is off to a great start with donations. Saavedra-Garcia said the team has collected more than 100 articles of clothing, running books and shoes since the drive started on Sept. 14. Now other groups, including Olsson Associates and the Greater Omaha Area Trail Runners, are helping with donations.

The need at the high school is great, and donations will fill that need, both coaches said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 good for the girls to see slightly older girls thinking about their community, and it鈥檚 empowering them to also give back,鈥� Tripp said.

The cross country team is grateful for the overwhelming support from the community.

鈥淢y mom has a saying,鈥� said Alondra Payan, senior and team captain of the South girls鈥� cross-country team. 鈥淚f one person succeeds, everyone succeeds.鈥�

How to donate

Through Oct. 14, drop-off new or gently used workout clothes, sweatshirts, sweatpants, winter hats, shoes, socks and gloves at the following locations at the College of St. Mary's: