UNIVERSITY CITY – High School seniors Itai Warschaw and Nathan Bohnet were taking clothing orders from individuals attending the weekly meal program in Old Town.
“It feels really good,” offered Bohnet, University City High’s leading scorer this season in lacrosse. “I think we kind of take for granted the clothing and shelter that we have.”
The program provides attendees with a burrito meal, dessert, a made-to-order coffee drink, clothing items, and a haircut if they want one. The hundred or more people inside the building and on the outside patio seemed calm and orderly as the “We See You” house band played rock favorites in between prayers by area pastors.
“We came here together as a group,” Warschaw said. (Coach Chet Zygmont counted 27 varsity and JV players and four coaches in attendance.) “I came to this program two years ago. That time I helped with (serving) food.”
The two seniors agreed that it was a positive experience that helped others, and that it helped build unity within the UCHS lacrosse program.
As of April 15, the Centurions are 7-4 on the season, with five games remaining before CIF playoffs, playing teams the program has never played and enjoying success, in Zygmont’s words.
This is Zygmont’s ninth year as head coach in two separate stints. UCHS is ranked sixth in Div. II in CIF San Diego, playing in the Eastern League.
“When we came (to serving in Old Town) two years ago, I was a little nervous,” shared Harrison Rojas, 18, a two-year captain. “But when you see the people, you see they’re regular people. No one should have to go to bed hungry.”
Said sophomore Emil Bonifacic, nicknamed “Happy” because in seventh-grade rec lacrosse he was called “Happy Meal” (for Emil), “I think a lot of these people (at the meal program) are in a position where they can’t help themselves” because of addictions and other challenges.
“So, we can help,” Bonifacic said.
