Laker soccer teams go to Flint for community service project

The Laker varsity soccer teams travel to many areas in the state for soccer games, but for a Saturday in March, the teams took a trip to Flint for a very different reason.

Several members of the boys and girls teams, along with coaches, visited the Shammah Outreach Center March 11 and worked for three hours cleaning up debris from inside and outside of the building.

“This is a newly acquired property that has a lot of renovation work that needs to be done,” said Chad Craig, varsity boys soccer coach.  “When it is complete, there will be several different services provided such as education, food distribution and work skills.”

The teams also took personal toiletry items, which they sorted and later handed out to people who are homeless and living in various shelters.

“We have made it a team requirement for all varsity soccer players to complete three hours of community service each season,” Coach Craig said.  “Our goal is to help students give back to those who are in need in and out of our community.  It was an eye opening experience for us all about the challenges faced by many people who do not have a home to live in.”

Kari Bushey, a member of the girls varsity team, said when she first arrived at the site, she was a little nervous.

“I was in culture shock,” she said, noting it was difficult to see how people suffer when they don’t have a home. “It made me thankful for everything I have.”

Brandon Hazard, a member of the boys varsity team, agreed.

“It was scary seeing people so young who are homeless,” he said.

“We don’t realize the difficult experiences that people have in bigger cities,” said Halle Keim, another member of the varsity girls team. “It’s a whole new perspective seeing it firsthand.”

While the teams were there, they handed out coffee and food along with the donated toiletries.

“I was able to meet the people (who need the outreach center) and hear their stories,” Kari said. “It all became very real at that moment.”

“It was rewarding seeing the joy on their faces,” Halle said. “They were so grateful.”

Halle, Brandon and Kari agreed the experience was very valuable for the team.

“It made the team closer,” Brandon said. “It made us realize what we have.”

“This was a great thing for us to do as a team,” Kari said. “It was a way for us to bond.”

Halle agreed.

“It was a great opportunity to serve, and props to our coaches for (organizing this trip),” Halle said. “It strengthened the team. We witnessed a bigger need than ourselves. Life is about more than winning games.”

 

Photo: Laker boys and girls soccer teams and coaches listen to Lynette Delgado, the head of the Shammah Outreach Center in Flint. On a recent Satuday, the soccer teams and coaches helped clean in and around the center and they handed out food, coffee and donated toiletries to those who come to the center for assistance.