FREEPORT — Sports can bring pride to a community for what’s done on the field or any other arena.
But at Freeport High School, the athletic programs also gives back in other ways through community service projects throughout the year.
Every athletic program at Freeport is responsible for at least one community service project. Freeport wrestling coach Anthony Dedmond said his program has benefitted from assisting the Salvation Army prepare food packages during Christmas by giving the student/athletes a bit of perspective.
“It’s always nice to give back to the community and show the kids that there’s a need out there and to appreciate what they have,” Dedmond said. “For a kid whose biggest problem is how they’re going to get that new iPhone, it’s good for them to see a family that may be dependant on a box of food or clothing.”
The girls soccer team made and donated blankets to the Sleezer Youth Home and both the girls and boys teams each conducted a practice with athletes from Special Olympics.
Not all community service projects are limited to outside of the program’s field of play. The volleyball team held its annual Breast Cancer Awareness game last October. Players made posters and other decorations, while literature and self-exam cards were handed out. The players sold more than 300 T-shirts to raise $1,423, which was donated to the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center and the Women’s Diagnostic Center at FHN.
The baseball team also played a regular season game with the emphasis on Epilepsy Awareness, where money was raised for the cause.
“The coaches in the community all want to do something to give back,” Dedmond said. “They all want to get their kids involved in it.”
The student/athletes have even picked up a new skills during the project.
“I now know how to cut weeds,” said Freeport cheerleader Ty’Zhauna Piggue, who helped maintain weeding and grooming the Freeport Pretzel City welcome sign on the corner of West and South streets.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Freeport cheerleader and girls basketball player Tomiah Burrow said.
Dedmond said athletic director Jeff Fitzpatrick was responsible for making it mandatory for each athletic program to get involved in one service project, but many programs already implemented initiatives years prior.
Dedmond added that the student/athletes aren’t alone in their community service efforts.
“Parents get involved and distant cousins will as well,” he said. “The coaching staffs will put everything together and the kids enjoy it.”
Read more: http://www.journalstandard.com/article/20140731/Sports/140739852#ixzz39F08OfTr
