Day, Holtmann, Ohio State community provide refreshing doses of good news

Another day, another depressing, anxiety-inducing news cycle. Here’s your friendly reminder that taking a day or two off from watching the news, scrolling Twitter, reading your great aunt’s Facebook posts can do wonders for your mental health. Instead, we recommend taking a long walk outside, petting your dog (if you don’t have a dog, any random dog will do), and treating your mind to nothing but uplifting, “Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan’s Soul”-esque content.

To help you with the later, we’ve compiled a list of all the good news/deeds across Buckeye Nation:

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, head football coach Ryan Day, head basketball coach Chris Holtmann, and their families are teaming up to donate $35,000 a month between April and August – a total of $175,000 – to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund. The money will go toward acquiring more food and supplies in response to the increasing number of central Ohioans who are facing food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For every dollar donated, the Mid-Ohio Foodbank is able to secure $9 worth of groceries. The $175,000 donation from the Smiths, Days and Holtmanns will result in more than $1.5 million worth of groceries for Ohioans in need.

“We keep reading about the thousands of central Ohioans who are losing their jobs, and it’s just devastating,” Nina Day said. “Ryan and I hope that our family can help ease the burden a bit for other families in our community. We hope, too, that by our example, other members of Buckeye Nation might join us in making donations to feed others.”

I’m just gonna say it. The return of sports should be the least of our concerns, and I respect the hell out of the Smith, Day and Holtmann families for focusing on the bigger picture and encouraging others to do the same. If you’re interested in helping out, you can make a donation at www.midohiofoodbank.org/buckeyenation.

The Ohio State women’s soccer team tweeted a message to those on the front lines of this pandemic that says “Thank you for the sacrifices you make every day and the care you are giving to help us fight COVID-19.”

Many other Ohio State teams have tweeted out similar messages recently, and, in my personal opinion, should do so every week. While we sit and complain about being bored at home, we need to constantly remember those who don’t get that luxury and who, instead, are risking their lives to save our loved ones. And THAT is why we stay home.

Former Ohio State linebacker Chris Spielman has been selling some of his most prized possessions on eBay, with 100% of his proceeds going to those who have been affected by COVID-19.

First was his 1984 Big Ten championship ring, which sold for $12,000. The man who purchased it is paying it forward however, by leaving it to Spielman’s family in his will.

Next item up for sale: his game worn throwback Detroit Lions jersey—which he wore in a victory over the Cowboys on Monday night football in 1994— and his Pro Bowl watch which was earned that same season. The current bid is up to nearly $4000.

Spielman promised that he would continue auctioning off items until he has raised $40,000— donating $1000 per week for 40 weeks.

Chris Spielman is a man of many talents, but philanthropy is possibly his best.

Ohio State Athletics introduced a new page to their website devoted to “celebrate the careers of our winter and spring senior student-athletes who did not have the opportunity to complete their seasons and are taking the next step in their careers and to highlight spring seniors who have gained another year of eligibility for spring 2021.”

The cancellation of sports definitely sucks for fans, but sucks way...way more for the senior athletes who have spent the last X amount of months training and preparing for their last collegiate season. Fortunately for spring athletes, the NCAA granted another year of eligibility for seniors of spring sports, seeing how they didn’t get a season at all. A lot of those seniors are taking advantage of that extra year, while others have decided to move on. No matter what these athletes have decided, this page pays tribute to each of their careers and tells us where we can find them next season— whether that be in Columbus or elsewhere.

Not all heroes wear capes. Despite restaurant closures and limited hours, Buckeye Donuts (if you know, you know) is remaining open 24/7 for takeout.

“I want to give people — even if it’s something small like just going to a doughnut shop and getting a breakfast sandwich — I want to give them that little normalcy that they had prior to this crazy situation,” Buckeye Donuts owner Jim Barouxis told The Lantern.

If there’s anything this world needs right now, it’s more donuts—especially when they’re Buckeye Donuts.