BYU Student-Athletes Gather to Serve

PROVO, Utah – BYU student-athletes teamed with the nonprofit humanitarian group Stitching Hearts Worldwide at the Smith Fieldhouse for a variety of service projects in conjunction with Honor Week on Thursday.

More than 350 student-athletes came together to create a variety of humanitarian relief items that will be sent to those displaced from their homes because of fire, natural disasters, and political unrest around the world.

Together, student-athletes put together 300 backpacks, 200 toys, 25 teddy bears and 35 specially designed sleeping mats made from plastic bags.

The finished products will be sent to refugees in countries such as Jordan, Bangladesh and Lebanon, including to many people who can't get into refugee camps. Other products will go to those displaced by the fire in Paradise, California, where many people still don't have homes. 

"We're so impressed with all the athletes that just dug in and worked so hard," said Krysti Wright, founder of Stitching Hearts Worldwide. "They've done a lot of good and we appreciate all this help."