WILMINGTON, Ohio – The 2020 fall semester provided many challenges for Wilmington College athletics programs. The health guidelines and procedures surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forced programs to get creative on training, practice and team activities. One such program, the women's basketball team, decided to partner with the Clinton County Humane Society.

"It was beneficial for the shelter to have the extra help to lighten the load for other volunteers and for those student-athletes to see what happens at a non-profit organization," said Eileen Brown, a frequent volunteer of the society. "When the world is back to normal, hopefully they can come back and assist with major projects that were canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions."

Each week of the fall semester, members of the program traveled to the society to help the organization with a number of tasks, alongside getting to meet some furry friends.

"We did a number of things there, from walking and playing with the dogs there to helping clean," said senior Hannah Binkley. "My favorite part was obviously walking and playing with the dogs, but I was happy to help out with bleaching and sweeping the floor as well as cleaning the cages. We even got to witness a surgery while there!"

Freshman Malaysia Miller, a self-proclaimed animal lover, said working at the Clinton County Humane Society was an eye-opening experience for her.

"We got to play with the puppies, wash them, walk them and feed them," she said. "I really enjoyed doing this because they get a chance to get out of their cages and have fun. Each time I went, I thought about the possibility of adoption and the animals going to a good home. Overall, I enjoyed volunteering there and hopefully we can do it again."

The women's basketball program begins the odd 2020-21 season against Ohio Northern University on Jan. 22.