Featured photos provided by A.C. Reynolds High.
By: Benjamin Rickert
BCS Communications Dept.
The Rockets baseball team found a creative way to care for their neighbors this December.
The A.C. Reynolds High School players assembled gift bags full of encouraging and helpful items donated by those in their baseball community. The bags were then delivered to residents of the Flesher's Fairview Health & Retirement Center. Along with the gift bags, students delivered a large poster featuring each of their photos.
“We wanted to do something to help those who have been a little more affected by the pandemic than others,” explained head baseball coach and A.C. Reynolds Middle teacher Michael Staicar.
Staicar explained that residents of the home have had few visitors over the past year due to restrictions needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Students remained outside during the visit, but were able to communicate through an open door as the bags were distributed inside.
At one point, the residents started joyfully singing holiday carols to the students, including “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Staicar said a particularly humorous moment was when the players tried to sing along but didn’t know enough of the lyrics to keep up.
“Some of our students tried to sing and think of the words off the fly,” he said with a laugh.
Throughout the year, Reynolds players volunteer and raise funds for community needs as a way to give back. Staicar said it’s about building character and gaining a greater appreciation of serving as a team.
“Not everyone is going to play baseball for the rest of their lives,” he said. “And when that ends, what are you going to do and what kind of person are you going to be? Those are big questions I ask [my players].”
View A.C. Reynolds High's Dec. 7 post about this story on Facebook.
