Giving back: EW's football team spends time at Community Soup Kitchen

By Cam Ellis
Published in Sports on July 28, 2015 1:46 PM

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Phil Gray loves this community.

The first-year Eastern Wayne head varsity football coach knows how important his team is to many people in this town. His team understands its reputation among the community.

The most pivotal lessons are learned outside the lines and not underneath the spotlight. Many don't get the opportunity to bask in the glow of success.

Instead, they depend on gracious people to help them through their day. Eastern Wayne's football team joined that group of people Monday by preparing and serving soup to those in need at the Community Soup Kitchen of Goldsboro.

The team had not served the needy until this year.

"We're trying to give back to the community," Gray said. "You never know when you might be down and you need help or assistance. This is just one of the many things we're trying to do."

The group, decked out in their home white uniforms, volunteered at the kitchen from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and volunteer at the kitchen again this afternoon. It's one of many service trips Gray has planned for his team this year.

"We're going to try and come out and help the community," Gray added. "We're going to help build a home with (Habitat for Humanity) and help do some stuff around some churches. Just whatever needs to be done in Goldsboro. Eastern Wayne football and Eastern Wayne High School wants to be out in the community and involved."

Several players had assisted the needy in the past, particularly senior kicker Brennan Dove, who worked at the soup kitchen a couple of years ago with her mom.

"I just wanted to help the community and give back," she said. "Everyone is very nice for the situations that they're in. They stay positive."

Eastern Wayne isn't the first area team to volunteer at the Soup Kitchen. Teams from the University of Mount Olive and Rosewood have volunteered their time. Director Doricia Benton said new volunteers are always welcome and never turns away a helping hand.

"I like it when they come in because they get a visual (idea) of what is really going on in the community," Benton said. "It gives them a better understanding. My calendar was full, but I gave my volunteers the day off just so I could get (Eastern Wayne) in.

"They were very enthusiastic, kind and respectful every step of the way."

The soup kitchen has become a well-oiled machine. Benton is booked volunteer-wise until the end of the year and served 44,682 meals in 2014. This year, the kitchen is estimating that they'll serve upwards of 47,000.

The Warriors served 132 meals on Monday.

Benton praised the initiative of Gray and his team, who were the ones to contact the kitchen about volunteering, not the other way around.

"I think it's wonderful," she added. "You engage within different people in the community, whether it be the coach or the preacher or the business man. The thing is to get a better understanding of the need of the community. I think he's a wonderful individual."

The volunteering isn't a one way street, however.

The notion of team chemistry came up often throughout the afternoon, with everyone in agreement that it's afternoons like this -- moreso than time on the field -- strengthen the team's bond.

"I think it's going to bring us together more," senior offensive lineman Eric Parks said. "It's going to make us a better team. On the field, we're a family so we've got to stick together and do stuff like this."

Gray has seen an improvement already.

"(What stuck out) was seeing people of all kinds come in and just sit down, talk and come together," Gray said. "The kids were working as a team today."