Local Sports
Friday, October 30, 2009
Royals give back to communityThis year she's the school's athletic director and she thought she'd try to take such a project forward on a larger scale.
So, "Royals Give Back" launches Sunday, with 150 high school athletes in fall sports converging on the school district's six villages to rake leaves for elderly or disabled residents.
No high school athletic program could survive without the backing of its community, and this is Elmwood's way of returning the favor -- Royally.
Athletes from Elmwood's fall teams will wear the school colors of blue and white and head to a total of 75 residences to assist in the process of leaf disposal.
"The coaches are all on board with it and the kids are excited about it," Story said, adding that she's talked about the project with some athletes and "it's really become quite the buzz in school."
Story got the ball rolling by contacting each village mayor to get the names of residents who could use such assistance.
"The people who are getting their yards raked all got postcards letting them know," Story said. "I've gotten some phone calls from people saying, 'Why are you doing this?' I told them, 'The kids want to show their appreciation to the community, and this is our way of giving back.'"
So after team members gather at each community's fire hall at 2 p.m. Sunday and maps are distributed, the athletes will go about their business.
"Hopefully before nightfall, we'll have all 75 yards raked," Story said.
The volleyball team will head for Cygnet, the football team to Wayne, the cross country teams to Bloomdale, the cheerleaders to West Millgrove, the boys golf team to Bairdstown and the girls golf team to Jerry City.
The volleyball players will initially be the busiest, with 27 yards to rake. If necessary, Story said, they'll receive assistance from the football players.
Story noted that further support for the project is coming from Mick Torok of NAT Transportation, who voluntarily will haul leaves from the communities in which leaf pickup is not available.
Story will be plenty busy as well, traveling from community to community to coordinate efforts.
"It's grown much bigger than I thought it would," she said.
But she knows from previous experience that the recipients of the assistance will appreciate it and the athletes, while possibly a bit sore in their arms by the end of the day, "will feel good when they see the smiles on people's faces."
Story said she wants the Royals' community work to continue beyond Sunday.
"We hope to do something else in the winter and the spring," she said.
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Ph: (419) 435-6641 • Fax: (419) 435-9073
113 E. Center St. • P.O. Box 947
Fostoria, OH 44830
The Findlay Publishing Company
P.O. Box 609
Findlay, OH 45839-0609
Phone: (419) 422-5151
www.findlaypublishing.com
Please read our privacy guidelines
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