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Students pitch in for Salvation Army

Faced with decades of accumulation, where could The Salvation Army turn for the musclepower to move a ton or more of old papers, equipment and miscellany from upstairs to down?
Enter the varsity and junior varsity football teams from Shelby High School. Three dozen players, all members of the weightlifting classes at Shelby High School, practiced more than bench pressing and handling barbells recently.
The students made short work and fun out of hauling 20 years' of stuff from second floor storage.
"It's beyond words," said a beaming Kiley Beaver, office manager for the corps, about getting the job done in 90 minutes. "It would have taken us a week or more," she said, "and if we'd had to pay for it? Well..."
The warehouse area echoed with laughter and camaraderie as 36 young men, shepherded by coaches Chris Emery and Mike Wilbanks, quickly created an assembly line from upstairs to down, as well as a relay system for lowering lighter pieces over railings.
The team worked so fast that Beaver had them move to the other side of the building to unload a second loft.
"My principal, Mr. Allen, really believes in getting our kids involved in the community and always is looking for opportunities," said coach Emery. "The boys were eager to help and jump in," when told about the project.
Tre' Jolly, a 15-year-old sophomore, said, "I think that the whole team is really excited to help our community more."
Jolly said that in the spring, team members work with students at elementary schools.
"We go to the schools and help them read, play with them on the playground. We really look forward to it. "
Jolly said he did not have that experience as a Jefferson Elementary student, but would have welcomed it and is happy to say, "Our program is beginning to build."
Student volunteers included: Lewis Telle, Milleon Proctor, Jaylon Kimble, Will Berkowitz, Diavonni Daley, Nick Stites, Caden Sheely, Tyshawn Perkins, Nick Corry, Jordan Brown, Mikey Howard, Zai'Twane Hopper, Ethan Mitchell, Donye Fuller, Max Mauney, Tyler Carpenter, Fabian Pettis, Quadrick Heckstall, Tyreik Hill, Desmond Hyde, K.J.Washington, J.P.Petty, Myson Anderson, Evan Johnson, Jaxson Bowman, Thomas Hougas, Aaron Parsons, Jamez Huskey, Qe Murray, Tre' Jolly, Keyon Lotharp, Dabrion Gill, Steven Lattimore, Clayton Heavner, Tywon Hill, and Charles Blankenship.

Pictured: Shelby High students showed initiative, teamwork and organizational skills as they worked to help The Salvation Army clear two lofts recently in the rented building it will soon vacate. Thirty-six young men from the weightlifting classes turned out for the service project.


Submitted by Cassie Herndon Tarpley


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