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CHS students participating in community outreach

Posted December 10, 2015 10:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

EDITOR'S NOTE: To see more pictures of the CHS students' visit to Chester Grade School and St. Mary's School, see the Herald Tribune's photo galleries online at www.randolphcountyheraldtribune.com.

For a couple of days, at least, a group of Chester High School students are going back to grade school.

The students, members of the CHS football, cheerleading and dance team squads, are participating in a series of community outreach events during the month of December.

"I think the thought process goes back to you have to be more than just an athlete, and even more than just a student," said CHS head football coach Jeremy Blechle, who helped organize the effort. "One of the jobs you're working on at the high school is you're making students, and anybody else there, accountable for being grateful for what you have.

"To come out to elementary schools and working with the elementary kids is a good way to see that."

Roughly 25 CHS students took part in Friday's visits to Chester Grade School and St. Mary's School, while another visit to local elementary schools is planned for next Friday.

Between the two visits is the football team's annual Christmas Toy Drive at Chester Walmart on Wednesday, which started as an initiative by former Chester coach Bryan Lee.

"Coach Lee did really well with community involvement," Blechle said. "I don't want to stay average or do the same thing he did, I want to make it our own thing.

"Increasing the community involvement is the only way. If you're going to try and do something, you might as well try and do it bigger."

According to Blechle, nearly $6,000 in new toys will be purchased for area children this year.

Traditionally, the football players are given a list and a certain amount of money to purchase presents for impoverished children from the community.

The presents are then wrapped by volunteers for Christmas delivery.

"It gives everybody an opportunity to give back and the Toy Drive is a big one," Blechle said. "You can ask kids to go out, sell a raffle ticket for a dollar - which is really considered a donation - and they also get some donations from bigger businesses around town.

"(The players) know that in the back of their mind, it's for a kid that necessarily won't have the same things they'll have on Christmas morning."

Also new this year, other than the school visits, is delivering Christmas turkeys for needy families.

"Some other people got involved this year, it wasn't just me," Blechle said. "Some people connected with the football program and they said 'You know what? How about we try and get more funds available and do something else.'

"It's more of a trifecta, I would call it, with visiting the elementary schools and giving out treats, the Toy Drive and helping out families as a whole."

Blechle said Gilster-Mary Lee, area mega-developer Joe Koppeis, Chester Construction Supply and Koeneman Agency were some of the donors who were able to contribute financially to the turkey initiative.

"With the help of Bob Welker at Rozier's Country Mart, we went and purchased 130 turkey rolls," Blechle said. "We're going to make a delivery next week and fill the freezers of the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry."

For the football players, the experience with the elementary school students was a memorable one.

"It's real nice, I love helping them all out," said Chester junior Chris Lang. "Making them laugh and stuff is real cool."

Lang also shared that the CGS students thought the jersey number (24) stitched on his jacket was how old he was.

"I had to explain to them I was 16," he said. "It's real cool coming here. They all look up to you and that's what it's about."

Asked if he wished he was back in grade school, Lang's answer was simple.

"I'm happy I grew up," he said, laughing. "I like making them smile, so it's all good."

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