Tigers Give Back brings Auburn spirit to community

April 22, 2015


Young Stantavious Lockhart Jr. discovers Auburn's Gus Malzahn at the East Alabama Medical Center


By Charles Goldberg
 AuburnTigers.com

AUBURN, Ala. -- Kim Evans sized up the paint job she had done on the walls, then sized up the paint on her clothes, and came away with a happy conclusion.

"Obviously, I've got more on me."

The Auburn women's golf coach was in the spirit of good fun and caring as part of an army of athletic personnel that descended on the Auburn and Opelika communities Wednesday for the annual Tigers Give Back Day. Evans and her golf coaches and support team were part of a group that worked on a home for Habitat for Humanity. In all, a hundred-or-so from the athletic department worked at or visited the Habitat for Humanity house, Habitat ReStore, East Alabama Medical Center, Lee County Head Start and Chewacla State Park.

Football coach Gus Malzahn visited patients at East Alabama Medical Center.

A lot of painting and cleaning were on the agenda at most places. So, too, were games of bingo, checkers, cards and dominos played among Auburn staff and seniors at the Boykin Community Center.

"It's spirit of giving," Evans said. "We take pride in the athletic department and our student athletes, but, most importantly, we take pride in our community. That's what it is all about."

Women's basketball coach Terri Williams-Flournoy was part of a junior Tiger Walk at the Head Start Center. She's no stranger there. The basketball team has shown up there numerous times to help.

"It's a great opportunity for us to give back to our community," said Williams-Flournoy. "The community does a lot for us, they come and cheer us on, so anytime we can go back and give a little to the community is always great."

The women's basketball team has a home at Boykin Community Center.

"We help with anything they need," said Williams-Flournoy. "These young ladies work so hard all the time that any time we can a free hand we do. Our student-athletes love it."

Evans, the painter, was enjoying her work Wednesday, too. But, just in case, "we're going over it with two coats of paint, just to make sure."

Charles Goldberg is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @AUGoldMine

From Twitter...