TEAMWORK AND CIVIC DUTY IN ACTION!
Saint John the Evangelist School in Attleboro has been home to basketball traditions, including an annual tournament, for over 40 years.
Students begin their basketball “careers” in third grade and make lifelong bonds with their teammates through graduation in eighth grade.
This year, the third grade boys and girl teams were challenged by their coaches to be more than a team on the court, and reach out to their community together.
Coaches Mark Langelier, Kris Carrier, Pat Gallagher and Dain dos Santos encouraged their players to collect “wish list” items for the Attleboro Area Interfaith Collaborative (AAIC) including items such as non perishable food items, toiletries, blankets and socks.
The goal of the initiative was to collect at least 100 items, which in return the coaches would reward the players with a pizza party.
Throughout the four weeks of collection, the players arrived at practice with various donations, talking to each other about who in their family and friend network they had asked for items, and how many they brought in.
They were very excited to help people in their community in need, and to do it together.
They collected nearly 300 items! Pam Tarallo from the AAIC attended the count, thanked the players and congratulated them on a job well done.
The coaches are very proud of their players and look forward to continuing a theme of service in each basketball season moving forward.