With a bye this past weekend, the Penn State football team used its time off the field to tackle a volunteer project. A group of about 50 players gathered at Centre Furnace Mansion on East College Avenue on Thursday to participate in the United Way Day of Caring.

The volunteer event is held annually on the first Thursday of October. Members of the community work on landscaping, painting and repair projects. The football players got their hands dirty with some yard work, spreading fresh mulch and raking leaves on the premises.

Penn State’s athletic program has regularly participated in the Day of Caring throughout the years, taking on similar projects. Members of the baseball and basketball teams participated in volunteer activities of their own in town.

“This is a really great opportunity to give back to the community and the people who support us every weekend,” freshman Charlie Shuman said to GoPSUSports at the event. “When we get an opportunity on an off day to give back to the community and help them out, it’s awesome.”

The team used the day of service as a chance to build chemistry, especially for the freshmen on the roster. The team had small competitions throughout the event, including seeing who could dump the most mulch and who could pull the most weeds.

“We always have fun, and we have a special bond as a group,” Shuman said. “No matter what we are doing, it is another opportunity to bond.”

The Lions get back on the field this Saturday, Oct. 11 at Michigan.