A college lacrosse team wants to raise money while helping troops

"Remember everyone deployed" isn't just a catchphrase for the Maryville University Men's Lacrosse Team. It might seem counterintuitive for a team that wants to raise money for its upcoming season to spend part of that money on another good cause, but that's just one more reason Maryville University athletes are known as the Saints.

Maryville, a small, private university just 22 miles from St. Louis, Mo., is one of the best-run colleges financially, known for making their dollars go far. This frugality means the students in its athletic programs need to raise a little money on their own to make their seasons a reality.

This is no problem for the men's lacrosse team. They started a crowdfunding project to get the money they need, but the reward for their hard work is more than just a third season in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. With money raised, they intend to send care packages to US troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. For every $100 raised, they will send out a gift to the men and women overseas.

As of this writing, the team has raised just shy of 20 percent of their ,000 goal. This means that, so far, they're set t send out 19 care packages to U.S. troops with another just around the corner. And this isn't the first year of their patriotic efforts. Last year's crowdfunded lacrosse team-care package effort saw 52 care packages shipped overseas from the Maryville Saints.

The Saints are accepting donations in any amount – and look forward to doubling their output from last year. What's really great about their efforts is that the Saints don't just give when raising money, they can be found at the St. Louis VA year round, donating their time and effort to veterans.

The Maryville University Saints Lacrosse team at the St. Louis, Mo. VA hospital on Veterans Day, 2018.

(Maryville University Lacrosse Twitter)

The NCAA Division II school crowdfunds many of its athletic programs. The Swimming and Diving team, the Women's Bowling team, and even the Men's Basketball team all crowdfund their programs through the Maryville University site — and the campaigns don't require offering rewards to donors, like many crowdfunding websites.

Only the Men's Lacrosse team gives something back in exchange for their good fortune — and it's purely because they want to give to American troops. For some of these lacrosse players, playing university sports is akin to being part of a family, something to which deployed military members can certainly relate.

"I enjoy being at Maryville University because it's like my second home," said lacrosse player Darrius Davenport. "We are brothers with an unbreakable bond."

Donate to the Maryville Saints Men's Lacrosse Team by clicking this link.