MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. -The University of Mount Olive Athletics Department, as part of the "Gifts and Talents" initiative spearheaded by UMO President Dr. David Poole, mounted a year-long effort to reach out to the Wayne County and surrounding communities with several community service projects. The men's and women's track and field teams began UMO's efforts by cleaning up the town of Mount Olive; 130 student-athletes went around the entire town collecting 150 bags of litter and other debris.
The rest of the department also participating in the initiative:
- Women's basketball visited the Falcon Children's Home.
- The volleyball teams conducted a canned food drive for the Mount Olive ADLA Food Bank.
- The men's soccer team worked at the Goldsboro Animal Shelter.
- The women's lacrosse team conducted a high school skills clinic.
- Men's basketball carried groceries for customers at Piggly Wiggly.
- Men's lacrosse hosted a clinic for local high school teams.
- The women's soccer team traveled to local schools to read to students and conducted soccer clinics.
- The tennis teams volunteered at Ferrell Farms nut factory, cooking and packaging products, the sales of which help abandoned and orphaned children.
- The softball team provided Halloween costumes and face painting at a children's hospital.
- The golf teams conducted a juniors golf clinic.
- The baseball team partnered with Goldsboro-Wayne Habitat for Humanity to build houses for community members in need.
- The athletic training staff held a Penny Drive for the Summer Sports Clinic for Veterans.
- The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee held a Be the Match campaign.
All of these "Gifts and Talents" are part of President Poole's mission to have the University of Mount Olive reach out to the community to strengthen the relationship between UMO and the region.