Men's Volleyball chaperones St. Louis Arc dance

St. Louis, Mo. - The Fontbonne University men's volleyball team once again volunteered their services at the St. Louis Arc Fall Dance last weekend. St. Louis Arc's mission is to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to lead better lives by providing a lifetime of high-quality services, family support and advocacy.

The Griffins attended the dance for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities where they aided with setup, check-in, served refreshments and aided with cleanup. In their free time, the Griffins were encouraged to socialize and dance with the participants as well. You can see them in action below.

"I believe this event is very beneficial for our players because it gets them out of their comfort zones and helps them see a side of life that most people are sheltered from, especially if their lives are not directly affected by knowing someone with development disabilities," commented head coach Mike Haston. "My players left this event with a better appreciation for their own lives and also with a better understanding of the community of people with special needs in their area."

Haston and his team aren't all strangers to the disabled or those with special needs. Haston and assistant coach Ryan Legrand are both special education teachers and several of his student-athletes are majoring in the discipline as well.

"I have worked with people with developmental disabilities and special needs for a decade now and although we are providing a service to our community, the act of service also helps change us for the better. When we see people for WHO they are and not WHAT they are we all become better people and we begin to change the greater society as a whole."