Collecting cans for the food pantry, sandbagging in Kimmswick and participating in the Special Needs Soccer Association are just a few ways Seckman High School athletes have volunteered to help the community over the past few years. Being part of the athletic program at Seckman High isn’t just about competing in different sports. The coaches also teach the athletes valuable life lessons, like the pride a person feels when he or she is able to help another, sometimes less fortunate, person.
Volunteering in the community brings players closer as a team and allows the students to see the value in helping others.
Members of the Letterman’s Club go trick-or-treating for canned goods each Halloween, which helps provide food for local families during the holiday season. The cheerleading team collects canned goods during the summer, when supplies are low at the food pantries.
The athletes, who are competitive by nature, challenge each other to see who can bring in the most food. This helps the community and makes volunteering fun for the student athletes.
Sandbagging doesn’t sound like a fun chore, but during the last flood in Kimmswick, the Seckman wrestling team arrived in Kimmswick ready to help whomever they could. They spent several hours filling sandbags and stacking them to make a wall to help save the houses and shops in Kimmswick.
While the sandbagging helped Kimmswick residents and business owners, the athletes also benefitted. They got to work side-by-side with the community, making new friendships and gaining a respect for preserving a part of Missouri’s history.
The girls’ soccer team spends a few weekends a year with the Special Needs Soccer Association (SPENSA) helping teach soccer skills to athletes with special needs. The bond Seckman students build with the SPENSA athletes is so special that some of them have decided to major in special education in college.
Every sport at Seckman High hosts a benefit game each year to help raise funds to cover the cost of medical bills for several local families affected by cancer.
Groups outside of athletics, such as Student Council, DECA, Honor Society, and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), just to name a few, also know the importance of volunteering and are quick to help others.
Being a student at Seckman High School is more than just learning the skills needed to do well on the ACT college entrance exam. Seckman also teaches the importance of having good character and being involved in the community.