CC students give back during the holidays

They say it is better to give than receive, and that rang true for student athletes at Clarendon College this past week who have been busy off the court giving back to the community that supports them.

The Lady Bulldog Volleyball team spent last Tuesday shopping for Christmas presents for local children in foster care.

The gifts were purchased with money raised by the Donley County Child Welfare Board’s annual “Kash for Kids” fundraiser each Fourth of July. The board currently serves 14 children in care from Donley County.

“The team volunteered to help us shop this year, and we truly appreciated them,” Ann Huey, Donley County Child Welfare Board president said. “These are kids giving back to other kids and that is so important.”

The team will meet this week to wrap the gifts which will then be delivered to children in care in time for Christmas morning.

“Our board works each year to make sure these kids are taken care of and have a wonderful Christmas, and we couldn’t do it without the generosity of those who support our fundraiser each summer and these students who are so generous to volunteer,” Huey said.

As the semester comes to a close, the Bulldog and Lady Bulldog basketball teams also pitched in to help those in need by canvassing Clarendon Sunday afternoon for their annual food drive. The players and coaches went door to door Sunday to collect items to help restock the food pantry at Clarendon First Baptist Church before the holidays, and the town showed their support in a big way – over 500 cans of food were collected.

“Thank you to the community for your generosity in helping us with a good cause,” Bulldog Head Coach Tony Starnes said.

A newcomer at Clarendon College was also appreciative of the outpouring of support for the food drive.

“I’m new to town and I am really impressed with the caring and giving people in this community,” Lady Bulldog Head Coach Brad Vanden Boogaard said.

The basketball teams will return to the Dawg House in January.The Lady Bulldogs take on Frank Phillips at home at 5:45 p.m. with the Bulldogs following against Frank at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 7.