Dec. 16, 2008

Story courtesy of Rogers State Sports Information Office

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. - The Rogers State Hillcats dished out a record number of assists Sunday night. Although none of the handouts were recorded in a scorebook, they won't soon be forgotten by those on the receiving end.

Members of the RSU women's basketball team and cheerleading squad participated in Toys for Tots distributions Sunday along with their coaches in Broken Arrow, Okla. The Hillcats helped deliver new toys to more than 6,000 needy children at the Church at Battle Creek.

The student-athletes served as "personal shoppers" for parents and helped select Christmas toys for their children. The Hillcats volunteered for more than five hours as part of the largest Toys for Tots campaign in the state of Oklahoma.

"This was a rewarding experience and a chance for our players to give back during the Christmas season," said Amy Williams, RSU head women's basketball coach.

The mission of the Toys for Tots program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

The toy distribution is one of several community service projects RSU student-athletes have participated in this year. The Hillcats have visited a number of local elementary schools, participated in reading programs, raised funds and awareness for breast cancer research and conducted clinics for local youth.

For more information on Hillcat athletics visit www.rsuhillcats.com.