What began as one University of Louisiana at Lafayette student-athlete's effort to give back quickly grew into a team-wide movement to serve the community.
On Wednesday, members of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team traveled to Ossun Elementary to deliver 50 backpacks and school supplies to students. The team also donated an additional 50, with accompanying supplies, to Paul Breaux Middle School later that day. The donation drive, totaling nearly $5,000 in goods, started when defensive end Tito Chikere used his own money to buy backpacks for local students.
As teammates learned of Chikere's plans, they began pitching in. Soon, players, coaches and staff came together to collect additional supplies based on each school's specific needs.
Suzanne Dupuy, Ragin’ Cajuns director of player engagement, helped coordinate the effort, assigning position groups specific items to purchase while members of the coaching staff also contributed.
"We gave each position group a couple of items, and then we asked the staff if they wanted to help with it as well," Dupuy said. "If the team could help with the backpacks, we would buy stuff to fill them, and then it just kind of exploded."
For Chikere, being in a position to give back means everything. He credits Dupuy, head football coach Michael Desormeaux and his wife, his teammates and the coaching staff for embracing the opportunity to make a difference.
"It's a blessing, man. Really just being able to give back," Chikere said. "I'm giving back for the kids, but more importantly I just want to let God know why I'm doing it. It's not just me, but for Him."
Photo caption: Members of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team, including Tito Chikere, third from left, gather Wednesday morning at Ossun Elementary to donated back-to-school supplies. (Photo credit: Kade Parker / University of Louisiana at Lafayette)
Louisiana football player turns an act of kindness into a team-wide effort
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