It’s a Dirty Job But Worth the Cheers

Major scoop alert!
Every year the Maranatha Athletic Department, spearheaded by the Baseball program, organizes volunteers to walk in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. For those who are new to the community, the walk comes with service, and it truly is one of the most memorable experiences you can have. Over the years there have been numerous coaches, students, faculty, and staff members who have participated in this "ritual" and we were excited to once again offer this unique service opportunity to be in the 2018 “Making a Difference” Rose Parade.  

So what’s the catch? Well, there was no catch, but there was a scoop. For the past seven years, Maranatha has fully staffed the Rose Parade “Pooper Scoopers.” As in previous years, this past January 1 Maranatha's volunteers met on campus around 4:00 a.m. before walking to the Wrigley Mansion for breakfast hosted by the Tournament of Roses. This walk affords a unique opportunity to see the floats on Orange Grove as they are staged in preparation for the parade. After breakfast, the volunteers returned to Maranatha where each participant was issued the standard Rose Parade white coveralls and organized into a two or three-person team. The teams consisted of a trash can on wheels, a broom, and a shovel. Once teams were organized, the crew of approximately 60 volunteers left the gymnasium walking down Saint John Avenue toward Colorado Boulevard. Once at Colorado, the parade began and teams entered the parade behind each equestrian unit to begin the walk and the occasional scoop. Despite the unusual responsibility of their assignment, the volunteers enjoyed experiencing the famous parade from this unique perspective and were often greeted with great enthusiasm and cheers by the spectators. At the conclusion of the parade, the tired crew turned in the gear and were served lunch from In-N-Out. This is always an incredible time of laughter and community, and a memory none of us will ever forget.
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