The O’Dowd men’s and women’s rugby teams embraced a community service opportunity last week, helping set up and break down for a retreat for women who have male family members – spouses, children or other relatives – in prison. The retreat took place at Holy Redeemer Center, where the teams practice, and was sponsored by Kairos Outside Northern California.
The organization provides the retreats free of charge, and they are designed to provide the family members a safe environment in which to interact with other women who are in similar situations. The women learn to form small support groups that give them strength for the challenges they face.
“We set up cots, tables, chairs, inflated mattresses, hung banners, and unloaded groceries on Thursday (10/1), and then we returned on Sunday (10/4) to break everything down,” Director of Rugby Ray Lehner said. “Both days went really well, and the retreat organizers were very thankful. Our kids really enjoyed the experience.”