Bulldogs giving back to Ruston

Louisiana Tech’s football team came together for a worthy cause in Ruston Wednesday morning to help those in need.

In celebration of Juneteenth, and fulfilling a program mission to serve, 150 Tech football players, staff, and coaches got their hands covered with caulk, sweat, and dirt to aid Habitat for Humanity of North Louisiana in a home project on Union Avenue in Ruston.

Kathy Gardner, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of North Louisiana, thanked the team before their two hours of work – lifting and assembling wood beams, caulking a nearly-finished home’s exterior, picking up trash and cutting overgrown fields of weeds and grass.

“It means the world to us because we love to see young individuals, especially football teams and any other groups, that can come out and give back,” Gardner said. “It’s an experience they can always take with them. I can’t thank Louisiana Tech football enough for wanting to do this for us. It’s so good that we’ve got coaches that lead their young men in the right direction in wanting to serve. It’s an important thing to do and to show as a mentor to these young men.”

Habitat for Humanity of North Louisiana is in the process of building two homes in Ruston, along with a home in West Monroe and Jonesboro. Gardner, who’s been with the organization for three years, said partnering with Tech football and other organizations in the region makes the process a shared experience that hopefully lasts a lifetime.

“This, with God’s grace, has grown so much,” Gardner said. “If you want to see a miracle happen every day, just come to Habitat for Humanity of North Louisiana. We have received donation after donation, volunteer after volunteer. We can build not only one house at a time, but now our fourth house this year. We are so thankful for teams and organizations to think of us and feel passionate about our cause.”

Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie certainly wasn’t out on the job site to point and direct throughout the two hours. Instead, the thirdyear coach got up on a ladder caulking the roof of one home and lifting floorboards along with tight ends Nate Jones and Kendrick Rucker, and many others.

“I’ve done it a time or two. I’ve remodeled a home or two,” Cumbie joked. “It’s good work. It’s one of the few things I like doing outside of football is being outside like this.”

Linebacker CJ Harris, along with kicker Buck Buchanan, used a nail gun to piece together wood siding for a home set to be completed by December as well.

For Cumbie, the opportunity to work with Habitat for Humanity of North Louisiana was more than fun, hard labor for his team. It was a reminder of how great their impact can be in the region.

“It was really important we celebrated Juneteenth today together as a team and family,” Cumbie said. “One of our cornerstones is service and we always want to find ways to give. To be able to come here today in the span of two hours and give our time and energy to help further the process of a home being built for someone who needs it is a great way for us to give back to the community.”

The team huddled together after the work was finished, with assistant coaches Jeff Burris and Jacori Greer giving a short message on what Juneteenth represents and how it should apply to the Bulldogs today. Cumbie hoped the message was taken to heart by his players.

“I think the love and appreciation for everyone,” Cumbie said of what he hoped the Bulldogs learned. “To celebrate and respect our differences and to love and appreciate each other. I think there’s no better way than a football team when you think about where everyone comes from and our backgrounds and for everyone to be together like we are.

“I think it’s important they understand the celebration of Juneteenth,” he added.