A group of young swimmers from Loudoun County, Virginia learned not only to give thanks at Thanksgiving but also to give.
The Curl-Burke Swim Club made its Nov. 18 swim meet more memorable when the group of 7- to 9-year olds invited 12 other teams to join them in donating food to the needy.
In all, the 296 swimmers who participated in the Pilgrim Pentathlon at the Claude Moore Recreation Center gave 500 pounds of canned goods to the Loudoun Interfaith Relief food pantry.
Curl-Burke came to Loudoun County in March and hosted the November meet, sanctioned by Potomac Valley Swimming, at its new facility, Nov. 18.
The donation came through a small group of parents who decided to get their kids, and more parents, involved in their community.
“Some kids, even my own, probably, don’t realize that not everybody can put food on the table and don’t have the basics,” parent Karen Pawlowicz said. “We knew the Loudoun Interfaith Relief organization in Leesburg was very good.”
The organization, which provides food to those in need, was running low on canned goods, so Pawlowicz and others decided to help out.
Loudoun Interfaith Relief, Inc. assists those with no one to turn to in an emergency such as job loss, injury or illness that leaves individuals and families suddenly without money to buy food.
“Part of Thanksgiving isn’t just giving thanks for what we have, but helping others, too,” Pawlowicz said. The team invited all the participating teams to bring in a canned good.
“We made it fun for the kids,” Pawlowicz said. “If they donated a canned good they got a raffle ticket for a little prize, like a bungee cord for their goggles or something to hang from their bag.”
Participating teams included Aqua Hoya Swim Club, Arlington Aquatic Club, Best Times Swim Club, Blue Waves Swim Team, DC Parks and Recreation, Flying Gull Aquatic Club, Fort Belvoir Swim Team, Hydro-Sonic Tiburones, Joe Flaherty's Dolphins, Maryland Suburban Swim Club, Potomac Marlins, and Patriot Swim Club.
Parents rented a truck the next day, loaded up bags and bags, and delivered the goods to Loudoun Interfaith.
Loudoun Interfaith Relief Executive Director Bonnie Inman said the swimmers’ contributions made a positive difference in the Thanksgiving of a lot of Loudoun area people.
“We’re just simply delighted at the tremendous success that the swim club generated from their food drive,” Inman said. “Just over the Thanksgiving holiday alone we gave out over 6,000 pounds of food. Their contribution has helped us help out so many more people and we’re very, very grateful for their support.”