SAGE’S WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM DONATES MEALS AND TIME TO WALDORF RESIDENCE
Albany, NY – Sage's women's soccer team recently participated in a community service project at Waldorf Residence in Albany, NY. Not only did the Gators serve brunch, but they also purchased the items for the meal, prepared it and served it to the residents.
Organized by Sage’s assistant women’s soccer coach, Deanna Romanowski, the event was highlighted by the time spent interacting with the residents. Sage’s women’s soccer team thoroughly enjoyed the experience and even donated additional beverages for future meals at the Waldorf.
Women’s soccer team member, sophomore Margo Teeters (Stamford, CT/Westhill) conducted an interview on February 28 with Don Arnold about the Gators’ community service 
project.
“This morning definitely went well. Everyone definitely enjoyed it—it was like having a sorority party right here at the Waldorf. We would absolutely like you to come back again. I’m very appreciative of the fact that you spent the time and the money and the effort to come here. The people really enjoy it. It’s wonderful to have such a festive breakfast. Everyone’s having a good time and laughing and hanging out. They’re ecstatic—they’re really ecstatic. This is probably one of the best brunches that we’ve ever had!”
Arnold added, “The population that we serve here is people who were at one time or another homeless and a lot of times they have either mental conditions or developmental disabilities or a history of past drug abuse and because they don’t have references they can’t get regular housing and a lot of times they can’t get regular housing anyway due to income. And Catholic Charities houses these people and in the last 20 years I remember seeing a lot of homeless people on the street. Catholic Charities in particular has made affordable, permanent housing options. People oftentimes have development disabilities, so they tend to be stymied socially. They’ll spend time just by themselves. It’s great that you’re bring the food and everything, but the fact that they have an event to socialize at is pretty incredible. If you think about it, if you were a person who stayed in your room all day.”
“There are some of them who work, but they tend not to have very high-paying jobs,” noted Arnold. He continued, “The vast majority of them are on social security. They pay in the neighborhood of $240 a month. Their rent altogether is $505. About $265 or so. You think if anybody can suck it up by the bootstraps, they will be alright. There are a lot of people who don’t have what it takes. It’s not a large portion of the population, but it’s a very visible part of the population. If they’re hanging out on the streets, everyone is going to see them. You make the grand assumption that those people are just lazy. They’re not really capable of getting jobs. They are little things we take for granted, socialization for example, having a house or a place to call your own. They believe me, have their challenges.”
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