DAY OF SERVICE

Lake Catholic Football Coach Scott O’Donnell and more than 40 of his players, shown above and to the right, recently volunteered at the Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities (LCBDD)/Deepwood for a day of service. Doing so, allows the players to strengthen their commitment to community service and also helps them prepare for their football season in a way that other teams might not. “The day of service is important to our football team in many ways,” O’Donnell said. “Most importantly, it allows our players to give back to their greater community. Students enter Lake Catholic to learn, and exit to serve. Our players, not even knowing it, become closer as a team through serving. I believe this gives us an advantage while on the football field.” Players arrived at 8 a.m. and groups formed to tackle projects. The players weeded and mulched flower beds at the Broadmoor School; detailed vans for the Broadmoor School; cleaned up the agency’s Recreation site shed and pavilion area; painted picnic tables; and practiced with the Special Olympics’ softball team. Their hard work was definitely noticed and appreciated by County Board staff and visitors, in particular as students returned to Broadmoor School last week. “Community service by athletic teams (or any group) benefits community individuals and causes, as well as the student-athletes themselves,” said Lynnmarie Landwei-Phillips, director of Public Relations and Professional Services for the LCBDD/Deepwood. “We have many groups that volunteer routinely, such as the Lake Catholic football team. In our eyes, these student-athletes have already won prior to stepping on the game field.”