California Golden Bears Athletics
Photo by: Cal Athletics
Building Bridges
12/6/2022 10:43 PM | Cameron Institute
Bears Venture Outside The Lair And Into The Community
This feature originally appeared in the 2022 Fall edition of the Cal Sports Quarterly. The Cal Athletics flagship magazine features long-form sports journalism at its finest and provides in-depth coverage of the scholar-athlete experience in Berkeley. Printed copies are mailed four times a year to Bear Backers who give annually at the Bear Club level (currently $600 or more). For more information on how you can receive a printed version of the Cal Sports Quarterly at home, send an email to CalAthleticsFund@berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-2427.
Offensive lineman Brian Driscoll steps up to the line of scrimmage on Saturdays with a ferocious presence. But when he steps up to the line to pass out groceries at the food pantry on campus, it's not to block – but rather to build bridges between Cal Athletics and the community. Driscoll and other Golden Bears have been venturing outside the lair and into the greater community thanks to the engagement efforts led by The Cameron Institute. Committed to its pillar of promoting community engagement, along with generous donations from C. Bryan Cameron and FTX, the Institute has forged relationships with various organizations in order to provide student-athletes with opportunities to gain perspective and knowledge while making a positive and sustained impact within the community.
"The Cameron Institute's commitment to community engagement is very unique," said Jessie Stewart, Director of Community Engagement. "We're working to support student-athletes to recognize their platform for social impact, while promoting long-lasting, reciprocal partnerships. The 'Learn, Plan, Do, Reflect' model is all about gaining context for the work we're doing. We don't want to just be a quick fix – we want to take the time to really understand community goals so we can show up as partners and serve and learn in the most sustainable and mutually beneficial way."
One such partnership is with the campus's Basic Needs Center, which provides a multitude of services to the UC Berkeley community. Driven by its commitment to promoting justice and belonging, the BNC strives to combat insecurities that members of the community face through preventative, intervention and emergency relief services. From CalFresh application assistance to emergency housing, the BNC works to address the holistic needs of the community.
Among its list of services is the Food Pantry located at the pulse of campus in the MLK Student Union. The Pantry welcomes community members to make a visit once per week and take as much food as needed. It provides both fresh and frozen food, with no eligibility requirements for receiving the services. Recently, the Food Pantry has been in need of volunteers to help deliver their services – and that's where the student-athletes come into play.
The Cameron Institute has begun an initiative called "Adopt-a-Shift" where Cal Athletics teams volunteer at the BNC Food Pantry's open hours. Student-athletes work side-by-side with the BNC staff and other volunteers to sort, stock and pass out supplies. The most common theme from student-athletes reflecting on their time at the pantry is how they value and enjoy the one-on-one interactions with members of the community. It's also what keeps them coming back for more shifts.
"I love interacting with people coming to the Food Pantry," women's basketball student-athlete Evelien Lutje Schipholt said. "Putting a smile on someone's face is always fulfilling. There is a very humble and grateful atmosphere at the pantry and everybody works hard to serve the community."
The ongoing partnership between the Basic Needs Center and Cal Athletics is one that will surely be mutually beneficial. The student-athletes gain experiences that allow them to connect with and help transform their school community. Their involvement with the BNC also helps bring awareness to the resources the center provides and amplifies its call for financial support to meet the demands of the community.
"I'm in a privileged position where I get three meals provided a day because of football, so if I can come down here and help somebody get their meal then it's well worth it," Driscoll said. "I absolutely want to continue working with the Basic Needs Center."
To learn more about the Basic Needs Center, please visit basicneeds.berkeley.edu/donate.
Offensive lineman Brian Driscoll steps up to the line of scrimmage on Saturdays with a ferocious presence. But when he steps up to the line to pass out groceries at the food pantry on campus, it's not to block – but rather to build bridges between Cal Athletics and the community. Driscoll and other Golden Bears have been venturing outside the lair and into the greater community thanks to the engagement efforts led by The Cameron Institute. Committed to its pillar of promoting community engagement, along with generous donations from C. Bryan Cameron and FTX, the Institute has forged relationships with various organizations in order to provide student-athletes with opportunities to gain perspective and knowledge while making a positive and sustained impact within the community.
"The Cameron Institute's commitment to community engagement is very unique," said Jessie Stewart, Director of Community Engagement. "We're working to support student-athletes to recognize their platform for social impact, while promoting long-lasting, reciprocal partnerships. The 'Learn, Plan, Do, Reflect' model is all about gaining context for the work we're doing. We don't want to just be a quick fix – we want to take the time to really understand community goals so we can show up as partners and serve and learn in the most sustainable and mutually beneficial way."
One such partnership is with the campus's Basic Needs Center, which provides a multitude of services to the UC Berkeley community. Driven by its commitment to promoting justice and belonging, the BNC strives to combat insecurities that members of the community face through preventative, intervention and emergency relief services. From CalFresh application assistance to emergency housing, the BNC works to address the holistic needs of the community.
Among its list of services is the Food Pantry located at the pulse of campus in the MLK Student Union. The Pantry welcomes community members to make a visit once per week and take as much food as needed. It provides both fresh and frozen food, with no eligibility requirements for receiving the services. Recently, the Food Pantry has been in need of volunteers to help deliver their services – and that's where the student-athletes come into play.
The Cameron Institute has begun an initiative called "Adopt-a-Shift" where Cal Athletics teams volunteer at the BNC Food Pantry's open hours. Student-athletes work side-by-side with the BNC staff and other volunteers to sort, stock and pass out supplies. The most common theme from student-athletes reflecting on their time at the pantry is how they value and enjoy the one-on-one interactions with members of the community. It's also what keeps them coming back for more shifts.
"I love interacting with people coming to the Food Pantry," women's basketball student-athlete Evelien Lutje Schipholt said. "Putting a smile on someone's face is always fulfilling. There is a very humble and grateful atmosphere at the pantry and everybody works hard to serve the community."
The ongoing partnership between the Basic Needs Center and Cal Athletics is one that will surely be mutually beneficial. The student-athletes gain experiences that allow them to connect with and help transform their school community. Their involvement with the BNC also helps bring awareness to the resources the center provides and amplifies its call for financial support to meet the demands of the community.
"I'm in a privileged position where I get three meals provided a day because of football, so if I can come down here and help somebody get their meal then it's well worth it," Driscoll said. "I absolutely want to continue working with the Basic Needs Center."
To learn more about the Basic Needs Center, please visit basicneeds.berkeley.edu/donate.
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