Brigit McDannell ’18
Sports Editor
The Smith crew team raised over $1,000 in their annual ergathon, involving 58 athletes and four coaches. The team rowed from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. to raise money for the Food Bank of Massachusetts in Hatfield. The Hatfield food bank provides resources and food to more than 300,000 people in Western Massachusetts, either directly or through local agencies and food pantries.
The ergathon was originally the team’s spring break training in the ’90s. They began donating portions of their proceeds to charities and larger organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Jesse’s House and Safe Passage. The food bank has remained their main charity.
Head crew coach Karen Klinger recognized the importance of food, saying, “As rowers, food and fuel is really important. We understand there are a significant number of people who are in food-insecure situations locally, including one in five kids. The sustainability of our food sources is a very important topic right now.”
The crew team plans on donating all $1,400 to the food bank, supporting the surrounding community while also hitting a record donation for the team.
The team continues their training for their first race of the season in Ithaca next weekend.
