11 Days of Giving - Day 11 - Habitat for Humanity

EDMONTON, AB – The Concordia University of Edmonton Department of Athletics & Recreation highlights Day 11 of the Thunder’s 11 Days of Giving campaign, as the student-athletes and teams have come together during this holiday season to give back to our community.

The Men’s Soccer team is highlights the final day in our 11 Days of Giving initiative as they partner with Habitat for Humanity Edmonton. The Edmonton chapter of Habitat for Humanity has been serving Northern Alberta since 1991, and works to “eliminate barriers to a better, healthier, more financially stable life” to give a “hand up” to families in need.

The student-athletes on the men’s soccer team will be providing an army of labour over multiple dates this holiday season, volunteering at the Sherwood Park ReStore location. Here the athletes will be receiving donations, unloading trucks, sorting, and organization items. The ReStore accepts new and gently used furniture, appliances, and other items, that it sells through their retail locations at a reduced price. The funds generated are then used to help provide affordable house to those in need around Edmonton and Northern Alberta.

Head Coach Hussein Shabdi spoke to the importance of the work of the organization, saying “All people have the right to affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity makes many dreams come true, and the Thunder men’s soccer team is so proud to help out with this cause. Being able to be a part of the process to have these items repurposed to help someone else where they can furnish their homes and use them for years to come is great to see and be a part of.”.

Fourth year student-athlete Onesphore Amanda saw this as a worthwhile organization to partner with, saying “This was a great opportunity for our team to get involved in the community and support other people. The work Habitat for Humanity does is important, and being able to work with them at the ReStore was a really positive experience and hope that it will make a difference to another family.”.

Additional information for Habitat for Humanity and the ReStore can be found at https://www.hfh.org/restore/.

More about the Thunder 11 Days of Giving Campaign:

With all of the struggles of the world in 2020, the student-athletes, coaches, and staff of the Thunder Department of Athletics & Recreation wanted to take this time of pause to get involved in our local community, and make it a better place right in time for the holidays. The 11 Days of Giving campaign challenged all of our student-athletes and teams to find a unique way to take advantage of this gift of time due to the COVID-19 pandemic and find a way to help those who need it most around us.