Team brings #givewhereyoulive spirit to life.
“We were looking for a way to get our athletes thinking about the community they live in and how they can serve it outside of sports,” says Jason Cranford, Head Coach. And with that, members of Huntingtown High School’s (HHS) Boys Varsity Soccer Team collected over $3,000 during their inaugural service project to benefit End Hunger In Calvert County.
It was important to the team’s coaches, Jason Cranford and Jonathan Reid, to encourage personal development within their players, both on the field and in their individual lives. “End Hunger In Calvert County was that opportunity”, Cranford continued.
Four of the team’s seniors, Marcus Reid, Tim Murnin, Daniel Henderson, and John Owen, led the project and created multiple ways for their teammates to get involved. Players collected pledges for each goal the team scored throughout the season and had donation jars at each home game to allow their fans to participate.
In all, the team collected $3,051.00.
“We were truly moved by what the Boys Varsity team accomplished and the creative ways they found to incorporate End Hunger into their season,” says Jacqueline Miller, Director of Awareness. “The team brought to life our #givewhereyoulive spirit. They made a huge difference for people right here in Calvert County, some of whom attend their own school. We’re looking forward to working with them again next season.”
In addition to collecting donations, the project incorporated a service component. Collectively, players harvested produce with Farming 4 Hunger, an End Hunger In Calvert County partner. “This aspect was important to us because of the tangible, real world application of helping to provide food for others. They got to see what the entire process looked like from harvesting the potatoes, to packaging it for shipment”, says Cranford.
The four seniors who headed up this years’ project are responsible for choosing and equipping next-year’s project leaders. This project is something the team plans to continue and pass down year-after-year.
To learn how your team or community group can get involved with End Hunger In Calvert County, visit their website at endhungercalvert.org or email info@old.endhungercalvert.org.
Pictured: HHS Varsity Boys Soccer Team, Head Coach Jason Cranford, Jacqueline Miller Director of Awareness, End Hunger In Calvert County and Ahna Turley Community Coordinator, End Hunger In Calvert County.