UMD student-athletes create holiday baskets for single parents

DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – UMD student-athletes are giving away food and other essentials to single parents in the community this holiday season.

Clara Van Wieren is co-president of the Student Athlete Council (SAC). The idea of ​​making gift baskets for family homes originally came to her three years ago after she was inspired by the First Ladies of the Hillside.

“Their (First Ladies of the Hillside) stories touched us personally. Many of them were once homeless and have overcome a lot of adversity in their lives, which is very inspiring,” Van Wieren said. “And we just wanted to help them in any way we could.”

The First Ladies of the Hillside is a grassroots group of women in Duluth that formed during the pandemic to create a more generous and friendly community through social projects like this one.

Amber Pelfrey is a member of the First Ladies of the Hillside and the Food Forward Project. She is excited to work with SAC to help families in need.

She remembers times when she has struggled and is grateful that she can help others who face similar challenges.

“It’s really surreal,” Pelfrey said. “Because I have often wished in the past that something so simple had been there for me and my family. It’s just surreal to be able to do it for other people.”

The student-athletes made a total of 36 gift baskets and will distribute them to families next week.

Learn more about Duluth’s Food Forward initiative and The First Ladies of the Hillside Here.

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