Nov. 22, 2011

WASHINGTON - After a big 64-44 victory over the Monmouth University Hawks Monday evening, most would expect members of the Georgetown women's basketball squad to be catching up on sleep or studying early Tuesday morning. Instead, eight players and managers took time out of their morning to volunteer at So Others Might Eat (SOME) prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.

"Being able to volunteer hours at SOME was such a humbling experience," said senior captain Tia Magee(Tulsa, Okla./Jenks). "It felt great to be able to help others, but I also benefitted from the satisfaction of knowing I helped start someone's day off right."

SOME is an interfaith, community-based organization that exists to help the poor and homeless of the nation's capital. The organization meets the immediate daily needs of the people it serves with food, clothing and health care. It aims to help break the cycle of homelessness by offering services, such as affordable housing, job training, addiction treatment and counseling, to the poor, the elderly and individuals with mental illness. The goal is that each day, SOME is restoring hope and dignity one person at a time.

The student-athletes rose long before the sun to arrive at the SOME headquarters on O Street NW. Breakfast is served every morning from 7-9 a.m., and the volunteers had to be ready to go as the hungry guests arrived.

They were given tasks such as serving coffee, setting tables, cleaning the plates and even serving the food. On an average day the organization serves 350-400 meals to the area's homeless and poor.

"It was a very humbling experience," said senior forward Adria Crawford. "You never realize how blessed you are until you encounter underprivileged situations."

In the District, poverty knows no bounds as the guests came in all ages, races, shapes and sizes. Second-year manager Ramonita Jimenez, one of the organizers of the event along with Director of Basketball Operations Tasha Harris, commented on how many of the guests looked to be the same age as they are.

"The interactions and small conversations that I was able to have with them brought smiles to their faces and made the 6 a.m., wakeup call that much more worth it. I loved it," said Magee.

The Hoyas will be out of town in Las Vegas, Nev., at the Lady Rebel Roundup over Thanksgiving so this was an opportunity to take time out of their schedules and give back to the D.C. community prior to the holiday.

It was not the first time that the players had worked with SOME and will certainly not be the last as the organization is always looking for volunteers to serve breakfast or lunch or for people to work with the provide a meal program and so many other opportunities.

"It was something good to do, but in return I felt terrible for those people," said senior point guard Rubylee Wright(Latta, S.C./Latta). "I appreciated the experience because many people wouldn't want to, or get the chance to, experience something like that. So it gave me an appreciation more than anything else."

No. 21/21 Georgetown will be back in action on Saturday as the squad faces the No. 10/10 University of Georgia Bulldogs in the semifinals of the Lady Rebel Roundup.

For more information or to get involved with So Others Might Eat, visit www.SOME.org.