Wrapping and Packing 41 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child with our receipt from Dollar Tree ($758.38 spent) Jess (12), Michaela (9), Allison (9), Morgan (10), Maddie (10) and Abby (12). (submitted photo)
by Softball Head Coach Shauna Troup
On November 14, 2015 a group of 11 Armstrong River Hawk softball players gathered at the new school to wrap and fill shoeboxes for kids who have little or nothing. The national collection week brings in many boxes to be shipped to areas that have had natural disasters or they are sent to very impoverished areas. The team goal was set at 20 boxes, by Coach Shauna Troup.
The players spent three hours at Wal-Mart (the weekend before) asking for donations and many wonderful people from the community saw that this was an important mission that a group of athletes were striving to reach. The girls asked for supplies for in the boxes including; hygiene items, school supplies and small toys or crafts. Anyone could also donation monetary gifts to help the girls purchase items to fill the boxes.
As a new coach at Armstrong I wanted the girls to have an opportunity to give back to other kids who have very little or nothing that can bring them joy on the holidays. After my transfer from the Butler Area Softball program it was very evident that I made the right choice by coming back to Armstrong County where I went to school. I cannot believe the support we received from the community! The players raised over $1000.00 to fill the boxes and send them to children in need. They wrapped all 41 boxes with Christmas paper and then went to Dollar Tree to shop for items to fill the boxes. The girls couldn’t believe how much fun it was to shop for someone else. Many of them came to me and asked if we could do this project again next year. It was a wonderful team bonding experience and I am so proud of their efforts! I never would have imagined we could fill double the amount of boxes that I set for their goal! I hope that this shows them the reality that they can achieve things with hard work. Being part of athletics is so much more than winning and losing.