Kentucky Basketball Team Brings Spirit of Service to Lexington Rescue Mission Summer Party, Showing Heart Beyond the Court in Community Effort
When the Kentucky men’s basketball team arrived at the Lexington Rescue Mission’s annual Summer Party, there were no roaring crowds, bright lights, or ESPN cameras. Instead, there were families in need, volunteers serving food, children chasing balloons, and the sound of laughter rising above music from a local band. For a few hours on that warm Kentucky afternoon, it wasn’t about stats, rankings, or Final Four dreams. It was about something simpler, deeper, and maybe even more important—connection.
Under the leadership of new head coach Mark Pope, the Wildcats took a break from their off-season training and summer workouts to participate in a day of giving back. It was more than a photo-op. This was a commitment to being present in their community, a reflection of the values Pope has worked to instill in the program since his arrival: humility, service, and gratitude.
The Lexington Rescue Mission, a faith-based nonprofit that supports people experiencing homelessness, poverty, addiction, and incarceration, has long been a pillar of hope in the city. Each summer, they host a party for the people they serve—an opportunity to break bread, share stories, and enjoy a rare moment of festivity amid difficult life circumstances. This year, the event gained added energy and attention when the University of Kentucky basketball team volunteered to be part of the effort.
Players arrived early, dressed in blue team-issued T-shirts and sneakers, ready to get to work—not as athletes, but as helpers. Some were tasked with setting up tables, carrying cases of bottled water, and organizing care packages. Others joined the kitchen crew, assembling meals that would later be served to guests. A few brought their own basketballs and started impromptu games with neighborhood kids in a makeshift court chalked out in a church parking lot.
For many of the players, it was a side of Lexington they hadn’t seen before. While UK basketball players are among the most recognizable faces in the state—celebrities in their own right—the mission introduced them to the quiet struggles of people often overlooked. That contrast wasn’t lost on anyone.
Sophomore forward Justin Edwards, who is expected to play a major role in the upcoming season, took a break between serving plates to reflect. “Basketball has given me a lot,” he said, handing a tray to a local mother with two small children. “But days like this remind me why it’s important to give something back. These people are part of our community, too. They matter.”
His teammate, returning point guard D.J. Wagner, echoed that sentiment. “It’s not about us being Kentucky basketball players out here,” he said. “It’s about being human beings who care.”
Coach Mark Pope was equally hands-on, helping pass out drinks and chatting with guests throughout the event. He made a point to introduce himself not as “Coach Pope” but simply “Mark.” He mingled with residents, asked them about their lives, and shared a few jokes. In between conversations, he watched his players interact with the crowd—noticing how they stepped up, smiled, listened, and engaged.
“These are the moments that shape young men,” Pope said. “It’s easy to think that basketball is everything, but what these players will remember down the line won’t just be buzzer-beaters or wins—it’ll be the times they made a difference in someone’s life.”
And make a difference they did.
One of the guests, a man named Raymond who’s been coming to the mission for over a decade, was moved to tears. “You never think you’ll see the Kentucky Wildcats here, serving food, laughing with us,” he said. “But today they came. They showed up. That means more than I can put into words.”
The afternoon continued with live music, free haircuts, donated clothing giveaways, and craft tables for kids. Several players joined the kids’ stations, helping them draw, make beaded bracelets, or simply sit in the grass and talk. It wasn’t flashy, but it was real.
Freshman shooting guard Travis Perry was seen kneeling on the pavement with a group of kids, trying to help a young girl untangle a ball of yarn she was using to make a friendship bracelet. “She was getting frustrated,” he explained with a grin. “I told her, ‘It’s kind of like basketball—sometimes it takes patience.’ She didn’t laugh, but she smiled after she finished the bracelet. That made my day.”
This kind of outreach isn’t a one-time initiative. Under Pope’s direction, community service is becoming a regular and expected part of the Kentucky basketball program. He’s said on multiple occasions that leadership off the court is just as important as performance on it. And for Pope, that begins with empathy.
“We talk about building culture in our locker room,” Pope said. “Well, culture is how you treat people when no one’s watching. It’s what you do with your influence. And these young men have the power to lift others up just by being kind, just by being present.”
The Lexington Rescue Mission event was also a valuable reminder of the symbiotic relationship between the university and the city. While the basketball program brings global attention to Lexington, it is the community that roots the team in something bigger than basketball. The mission staff expressed deep gratitude for the players’ presence, noting how the event drew more families than ever before.
For many of the players, this was their first time at a rescue mission—or at any kind of outreach event of this nature. Some admitted they didn’t know what to expect. But by the end of the day, there was a sense of clarity, even renewal, about what it means to wear the Kentucky jersey.
“It’s not just about being the best player,” said sophomore center Aaron Bradshaw. “It’s about being the best person you can be. That’s something Coach Pope reminds us of every day. This—today—this was part of that.”
As the event wound down and folding chairs were packed away, several players stayed behind to help clean up. They shook hands, hugged volunteers, and posed for a few photos—at the request of the guests, not for social media. There was no formal press conference. No victory speeches. Just a quiet exit, with heartfelt goodbyes and genuine thank-yous exchanged all around.
Before they left, the players presented the mission with a signed team basketball as a small gesture of gratitude and connection. “You welcomed us into your space,” Coach Pope said. “We won’t forget that.”
For a program synonymous with success on the court, the visit to the Lexington Rescue Mission offered a different kind of triumph—one measured not in points, but in presence. In a world often divided by status, fame, and circumstances, the Wildcats chose to stand shoulder to shoulder with those who too often feel unseen.
And in doing so, they reminded everyone—perhaps even themselves—that greatness is not only defined by what happens inside Rupp Arena, but by the choices made when no one is keeping score.
