For the second year, the Norcross High football team is running a food and toy drive to benefit a Norcross community organization and its players in need.
"We wanted to do something to help out in the community and get our team involved so they would feel more ownership and have a sense of investment within their community," said Chris Hall, the ninth grade football coach. "So we brainstormed and came up with a toy drive after last season."
Toy donations went to the A. Worley Brown Boys & Girls Club in Norcross last December, but the team wanted to do more. They came up with the idea to collect food items and gift cards to grocery stores to help their own players in need.
"We felt many of our own players and parents help us out, but what they needed most at this time was a helping hand with putting food on the table," said Hall.
Last year, around 150 toys were donated to the Boys & Girls Club, and the team collected $1,500 in gift cards and food baskets that were given to 20 players' families. Hall said head football coach Keith Maloof personally drove out and delivered some of the items to the families after their afterschool weight training session.
This year, the team is requesting donations of grocery store gift cards worth $25 or more, $50 food gift baskets and new toys worth $10.
And the place to donate those items will be this Friday's game against Colquitt County High. A donation bin will be set up for toys and gift baskets at the semifinals game, which will start at 7:30 p.m. at the Blue Devils stadium.
If you can't make it to the game, though, don't worry: The team will continue to collect items until the last day before the students' winter break. Any donations can be brought to the football field house or given to any of the football coaches.
For more information about the drive, call 770-582-7508.
See also:
- Norcross High Projected to Win Football Title
- Blue Devils Quarterfinals Stats: Norcross v. Camden Co.
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