Check out the SAAC "Sandwich Bus" photo gallery

Eighteen members of the UDM Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) assembled 120 sack lunches and loaded up the “Sandwich Bus” to hand out meals to the homeless in downtown Detroit on Friday afternoon, Nov. 20.

The first crew of student-athletes met in the Ed & Brooks Room in Calihan Hall, where PB&J sandwiches were assembled and added to sacks containing granola bars, apples and juice boxes. Once the sack lunches were assembled, the next wave, which included both student-athletes and members of the Detroit athletics staff, piled the food and themselves into a van and pointed the “Sandwich Bus” downtown.

“It was a really good turnout this year,” said senior Alex Aversa (LaSalle, ON/St. Thomas of Villanova), a member of the Titans women's golf team. “Every sport got involved and that was really impressive to see. Before, it's been just a few teams, but this time everyone got involved and everyone was happy to help out.”

The bus made stops outside of three community centers where meals were handed out to those in need.

“I think it's really important for all student-athletes to give back like this because we're given everything by the University and they do so much for us. For all we get from the school, it's nice to be able to give something back to others who are less fortunate,” Aversa said. “But at the same time, at least for me, it's sad too. You realize how little some people have and you get to see what just getting a lunch means to them.”

Titans SAAC members will volunteer time for numerous causes throughout the year, and will be loading up the “Sandwich Bus” several more times in the near future.