This past Saturday the University of Alberta Golden Bears football team traded in their shoulder pads and helmets for tool belts and hard hats to help Habitat for Humanity Edmonton.
More than 70 student-athletes from the Golden Bears gridiron squad picked up hammers and used saws to help build a new housing development in Neufeld Landing, which is Habitat for Humanity Edmonton's largest build to date-and the largest Habitat development in Canadian history.
The build is located in South Edmonton's Rutherford community and will be home to 64 families when completed.
The football team was organized into action by team captains Tyler Greenslade, who is now trying out for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, and Brandon Foster, a third-year defensive back and student in the Alberta School of Business.
"It was an absolutely great day, and as a program representing the University of Alberta we were honoured to help Habitat for Humanity Edmonton build this great housing development. This was a great opportunity for us to grow as a team, while at the same time allowing us to give back to the community," said Golden Bears head coach Chris Morris.
"It represents a continuation of our program's commitment to community service," Morris added. "The Golden Bears football players have volunteered at inner-city schools to serve Christmas supper, hosted at Ronald McDonald House, participated fully in Read in Week, served as volunteer tutors at two Edmonton high schools, worked with a Special Olympics wheelchair hockey team and worked with Geomeer, which is a charitable organization that provides hampers to needy families at Christmas time.
"The young men who make up the Golden Bears football program at the U of A have made it a high priority to give back to our community."