Husker Bowlers Give Back to Lincoln

Lincoln-On the steamy afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 1, eight members of the Nebraska women’s bowling team set out on a mission.  This day marked the fourth anniversary of the bowling team’s participation in Friendship Home’s Safe Quarters fundraiser.  

 

Each year, Friendship Home, a shelter for battered women and their children, invites participants to canvass the Lincoln community for donations to the shelter.  The Huskers were among 1,500 volunteers to participate in the fourth-annual donation drive which raised over $48,000 for battered victims.

 

“When we first showed up to Friendship Home, everyone there was welcoming us and they were really excited to see us,” sophomore Kayln Washburn said. “We all just felt really welcomed there.”

 

Volunteering in this event not only gave the Nebraska bowlers a chance to learn valuable life skills, but also a chance to interact and give back to their community.  Emma Butchard, a junior recruit from Scotland, got a close look at the kindness of the Lincoln community

 

“I knocked on the door of a woman who was a victim of domestic abuse,” Butchard said. “She had been saving up her money because she knew we were coming.”

 

Mid-afternoon, as the Huskers returned to UnionCollege to turn in their earnings of $207.99, they were greeted by a surprise guest.

 

“Steve Pederson was there and shook all of our hands and thanked us for bringing everybody out,” freshman Ashley Rymer said. “Everybody was just really excited and positive.  This is such an important cause and it was good to see so many people who cared.”

 

The Safe Quarters drive certainly had a lasting affect on the participants.

 

“Afterwards, on the car ride home, I was like, ?Wow, I feel so good right now,’” freshman Sarah Izydorek said.