Lady Bulldogs rallying together to help seniors
The Cedartown Lady Bulldogs basketball team is starting off their season with a team-building exercise that is not only touching their hearts, but helping them understand the importance of selflessness.
Head coach Johna Tidwell said her team is participating in a community service project for their second season, this time working with Cedar Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Philpot Street visiting residents once a week.
“I like to do something in the community every season,” Tidwell said. “Last year we made weekly visits to Ceder Hill Senior Living Center. It was something that touched us all, and so we decided to do it again.”
She said she asked the girls before tryouts if it was a project they’d be willing to take up, and everyone agreed without
hesitation. Tidwell said they’ll be heading over to visit residents every Thursday afternoon, not just because they feel like it’s the right thing to do. It also promotes selflessness, she said.
“It’s helps them understand that being selfless is a good thing, and not just because it helps people,” she said. “It can make someone smile, yes. But it also can help the greater good, which is a lesson I want them to take with them onto the basketball court.”
They made their first visit to residents on Oct. 30, Tidwell said.
“It was such a sweet experience,” she said. “Some of the girls had tears in their eyes after being there and seeing these wonderful people.”
She said residents are already expecting them back.
“One patient was just so thrilled to see us, and said she’d make sure to be there when we came back this week,” she said. “It was just the most precious experience in the world.”
This won’t be the only team building exercise for the Lady Bulldogs. Tidwell said her team will also be having a paint party to paint inspirational quotes on a canvas to hang in their lockers.
“It’s another way for us to get together and work as a team using our individual skills,” she said.