Baseball, Women's Basketball team up for 9/11 Day

As the country honored those who lost their lives during and after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, JJC teams played a role in impacting the local community on Friday.

On the 25th anniversary, 9/11 Day calls on 50,000 volunteers across more than 50 U.S. cities to pack 18 million meals for families facing hunger — the largest single-day meal pack in American history. Twelve JJC baseball student-athletes and 12 women's basketball student-athletes brought "Paws on the Street" to Grand Hall at Union Station in Chicago to help pack over 500,000 meals for families in need through the Greater Chicago Area Food Bank.

"It was such an amazing day to see our student athletes give back to our community," said Wolves baseball coach and Director of Athletics Gregg Braun. "On a day that offers so much remembrance of the tragic events on 9/11, our JJC Wolves student-athletes were able to make a difference in so many other families' lives today. But, with the long day and actual work they did to help – these Wolves stepped up in attitude and love and simply filled the Great Hall with such an inspiring spirit for everyone who was in there today. They danced, sang, smiled and laughed all while packing meals. I could not be more proud of these athletes to bring love and service to our community today."

"It was such an honor and a privilege to be able to volunteer our services for such an event as this," said JJC women's basketball coach Shaun Sanderson. "Our student-athletes understood the assignment and enjoyed every moment knowing that they were making a difference by helping feed families. I have to say the energy and love in that place was amazing! Seeing people smiling, dancing,working together while remembering the victims and their families 25 years ago on this day was a day I'll never forget."

All 24 JJC student-athletes were presented with he Illinois 250th Anniversary Commemorative Certificate of Appreciation, one of the highest honors awarded for volunteer service in Illinois.

By the end of the day, members of the Serve Illinois and Illinois Department of Human Services presented Braun with a street sign commemorating Joliet Junior College Athletics and the YMCA Junior Wolves program that was a finalist in the 2026 Governor's Hometown Award. The sign will be placed on a street in the city of Joliet to honor the Wolves success in giving back to the community.

9/11 Day is about turning 25 years of grief into good. In the days leading up to the anniversary, the goal of 9/11 Day was to generate one million good deeds by Friday, and the JJC Wolves did their part. Learn more about 9/11 Day here.