Members of the University of New Mexico men's basketball and football teams were at The Pit Saturday, July 26, from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. distributing backpacks and supplies to area elementary and middle school students as a part of the Albuquerque Public Schools' supply drive. The backpack distribution, sponsored by the APS Schools and Community Partnership Department and Title I Office, in conjunction with the Lobo Athletics Department and the UNM Research Service Learning Program, was a tremendous success. Over 4,000 backpacks filled with supplies were handed out on the day.

The event began with a large group of students forming outside The Pit early in the morning. Just before the doors opened at 9:00 a.m., the line went from the northeast corner of The Pit, along the west side of the building and back to the Lobo Softball Field. Thanks to the help of the Lobo student-athletes things moved quickly. By 10:00 a.m. over 3,000 backpacks had been distributed and the long line was gone.

"Anytime I can come out and give back to the community I try to do so," stated Lobo men's basketball senior Daniel Faris. "We want them to come and support us, so it only makes sense for us to give back when we can. I love being around kids and events like this are so much fun for me that sometimes I think I am getting more out of this than they are."

Supply distribution was handled in part by UNM student-athletes enrolled in service learning classes during the summer sessions. Members of the Lobo football, men's basketball and men's soccer teams worked to assemble backpacks full of supplies, and planned the distribution event at The Pit earlier in the summer.

Faris was joined by freshmen teammates Will Brown, Curtis Dennis, Nate Garth, A.J. Hardeman and Phillip McDonald. Lobo football also had a large representation that included freshmen A.J. Butler, B.R. Holbrook, Ty Kirk, Joe Stoner and many others.