Photo: Brianna Arity

 

By Brianna Arity

Friday nights are known for high school football games underneath the bright lights all across the nation. And in Rapid City, South Dakota, things are no different.

However, for St. Thomas More High School, big “plays’ don’t just stop on Friday nights. They extend to Sunday mornings.

The football team feeds the homeless every Sunday near Roosevelt Park. It’s a tradition that started about five years ago with head coach Wayne Sullivan, and his wife, Lorrie, and it’s a tradition that is turning players into respectful and generous young men.

Photo: Brianna Arity“It’s all about serving and doing the good work for others,” Wayne Sullivan said.

Sullivan has built a winning program in his 26 years as the head coach of the Cavaliers, but says football isn’t the most important thing that he teaches his players.

Each week, a different group of football players is responsible for feeding over 100 homeless people in Rapid City.

Game nights start and end with players on one knee, joining hands in prayer. Sunday mornings are no different with prayer, appropriately, holding the day together.

They start with a serving line and finish with containers handed out, packed full of leftover food for another meal. Nourishment aside, players collect shoes, jackets, hats, and gloves to hand out for the upcoming winter as well.

According to the Rapid City Journal, the city’s poverty rate is at 16 percent while the state poverty rate is at 14.1 percent. The Native American poverty rate is at 50.9 percent — the highest for Native Americans living in the country.

The numbers are too much, and not enough people are making it a point to donate their time.

“It really makes you feel blessed with our lives and what we have,” Lorrie said.

It’s evident the tradition won’t be slowing down anytime soon. With hugs given out to those in need and the same familiar faces every Sunday, conversations expand and relationships have more depth.

Photo: Brianna Arity“It’s just fun to come down here and not just help out, but sit and talk to these people. It really puts everything into perspective,” senior football player Ty Neugebauer said. “You meet people with incredible stories.”

“It’s a great experience to come down here and meet people,” senior football player Kyle Maguire added.

The Sullivan’s sure have started a brilliant trend.

“It’s about them. They don’t have the privileges we have and to give some of that back is amazing,” Lorrie said.

“To see the joy on their faces, even before they come through the serving line, it’s just so amazing to see,” Wayne added.

Sure, the head coach demands a lot from his players in practices and games, but what his guys are doing off the field, and out of pads, screams success.

So, thank you, Sullivan’s. Thank you for being an example of unselfishness and for giving others the opportunity to tap into a deeper part of themselves, and the world around them.