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CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech women’s basketball gave back to the community on Thursday, traveling to Christiansburg to help out with the 2013 Montgomery County Christmas Store.

“It was a great day for the girls to be able to go over to learn about, and contribute to, what goes on at the Christmas store,” Head Coach Dennis Wolff stated. “It’s a fabulous thing for the community. It gives the girls a chance to give back to all the generous and kind people who work at the Christmas store and to help some of the families that the Christmas store benefits. The girls really enjoyed the experience.”

The Hokies went to the store, which is set up much like a department store, to volunteer their time and give back to the surrounding community. The players were given a tour of the facilities and then assigned to various departments where they assisted families with their shopping and restocked shelves when items ran low.

“I was really thankful for an opportunity to give back to Montgomery County,” said Kelsey Conyers, who was assigned to the infant department. “I think that, a lot of times as a Tech student, we get kind of consumed with the Virginia Tech bubble and we don’t even realize the community we’re surrounded by, so I was just really thankful to be able to reach out and be a part of not only Blacksburg, but also Montgomery County.”

In addition to working at the store, the Hokies held a donation game last weekend when Tech hosted Michigan State. Fans were encouraged to bring new toys to donate for the Christmas store. The Virginia Tech Student-Athlete Advisory Committee collected over 270 toys for donation.

“I think it really puts things in to perspective,” Samantha Hill said after working in the book section. “It made me really grateful for what I have, not just at Christmas, but all year in general. Seeing the people come in and get the basics as well as books and clothes and see how happy they were; it was just a really great thing.”

The Montgomery County Christmas Store began in 1982 and served 267 families that first year. It has grown tremendously since then and serves over 1,500 families in need during the holiday season. The store is an all-volunteer, community-wide, nonprofit organization, which assists low-income families in Montgomery County during the Christmas season by providing a shopping experience characterized by choice and dignity. Serving families with children is the first priority.

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