Baseball pitches in for Giving With Thanks Food Drive in R.I.

(Woonsocket, Rhode Island) Members of the Rivier University Baseball team volunteered their time this afternoon as they helped collect canned goods at the annual "Giving with Thanks" Food Drive presented by Lyrics in Motion. The event was hosted at Saint Joseph Veterans Association in Woonsocket from 10am-2pm and the drive brought in over 300 cans of food for local families. During the time that people arrived to drop off canned goods, they were able to partake in some performances put on by the students at Lyrics in Motion.

In total, over 9 Thanksgiving baskets were made for families in need at the Sojourner House along with Military families of fallen solders through the Survivor Outreach Services – Rhode Island program.

"It was an awesome experience to bring our guys down here to a different part of New England and help make an impact." commented sixth year Head Baseball Coach Anthony Perry when asked about the event. "Our University's mission statement is 'transforming hearts and minds to serve the world' and this event furthers that goal."

Coach Perry was joined by nine members of the team including junior captains Tyler Ferdinand (Middleboro, Mass.), Charlie Savard (Tynsgboro, Mass.), junior Ty Seaton (Providence, R.I.), sophomores Brett Iannazzo (Methuen, Mass.), Cameron Way (El Cajon, Calif.) and freshmen Martin Acosta (Salem, N.H.), Marcus Ferdinand (Middleboro, Mass.), Ryan Larkin (Whitman, Mass.) and Eric Maxfield (Lowell, Mass.).

"On behalf of the Rivier University Baseball program, I would like to thank Lyrics in Motion and their owner/director Hilarie Viens for putting on such a great event for the community. It's truly inspiring to see the passion and excitement she has for her community and how all of her students express that emotion through the art of dance."

Lyrics in Motion is in their sixth year of operation and is located in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Their unique "Beyond the Movement" program is right in line with Rivier's mission statement as they build well-rounded dancers in teaching their students that being a dancer goes far beyond the movement itself. For more information about Lyrics in Motion, please visit their website (www.lyricsinmotion.com).

The Sojourner House (www.sojournerri.org) and the Survivor Outreach program (401-345-5818) are still accepting donations of canned items for their individual causes. Please feel free to reach out and help make an impact this holiday season.