Oct. 6, 2014 | by Donna Fisher

Imagine a small group of volunteers feeding 90 to 100 college football players before six home games. No fund-raising, no proselytizing—just home-cooked caring! Add 15-20 dozen cookies sent with the players and coaches whenever they play on the road.

Photo:, South Maple UMC volunteers offer home cooking and hospitality to 90-100 Hardrocker, football team members on Friday evenings before a every home game., Although members and friends donate time and food, the project is assisted by a Dakotas Conference grant for young adult ministries. Photo by Rev. John McKnight.

This heart-warming hospitality has unfolded at South Maple United Methodist Church, just a mile or so from the campus of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T), for two years now.

Like so many of us Dakotans, Hardrocker coach Stacy Collins and Pastor John McKnight share relatives. Together, they dreamed up the project to give the football players an experience that feels like home on Friday nights before Saturday home games.

No cafeteria-style food from the South Maple volunteers!, Six to ten volunteers serve a high-calorie meal like spaghetti or goulash plus lots of home-baked cookies and bars. “Those football players can eat!” says Pastor John. “These are some of the nicest young men I've ever met, polite and appreciative.”

The hospitality project has been partially funded by a young adult ministries grant from the Dakotas Conference, but lots of food is donated for home game events. In addition to serving the pre-game suppers, volunteers bake and pack cookies for the season’s five road games.

South Maple volunteers invite the SDSM&T football team to supper once a month during the off-season, Pastor John says. “Usually church members come just to meet players and plan some kind of social event—last year a highlight was a bunco game.”

Volunteers fed hungry players Friday night as they anticipated their Oct. 11 game against Central Washington University.,One parishioner said she never imagined her church feeding college football players. She told Pastor John, “This is the greatest thing our church has ever done.”

Sometimes things can get pretty chaotic. A couple of weeks ago 100 football players and 50 Cub Scouts and their leaders,were being hosted at the same time. Football players helped carry some chairs and tables outdoors for the scouting event.

Photo: Players and coaches lend a hand in set-up and take-down. During the off-season, SMUMC invites the team to a monthly supper and social activity. Photo by Rev. John McKnight.

“The next thing we knew, some Hardrocker players were playing an impromptu game with the scouts,” Pastor John said. “I looked around at all the craziness and said to myself, ‘I'm not sure what we're doing but I'm glad we're here. This is what the church should look like!'”,

With three home games and a road trip yet this season, more than a hundred young men and their coaches can anticipate more “delicious” hospitality from South Maple United Methodist Church.