“Every time a bell rings, and Angel gets its wings.” Our Lady Jays Basketball team is making some angels as they are one of the organizations that joined in on ringing bells for the Salvation Army and came together to give back for the holidays. The Red Kettle Christmas Campaign enables The Salvation Army to provide food, toys and clothing to over 6 million people during the Christmas season and helps more than 34 million Americans recovering from all kinds of personal disasters nationwide.
“Each year we want to give back to the community, and one of the ways we do that is working with the Salvation army by bell ringing,” History teacher Zachary Werner said. “We have girls go to different locations throughout Liberty and ring bells to raise money and raise awareness for the fundraising opportunities and charities the Salvation Army supports. It is important we give back and that is one of the ways we do it.”

The Lady Jays rang bells in the first snowfall of the season while working their shifts in groups of three to four. Although the weather did not cooperate the way they would have liked, the girls seemed to still have a good time.
“It snowed a little the first part of our shift and we were all freezing, but toward the end we got used to it and it ended up being pretty fun,” freshman Sina Selepeo said.

The Salvation Army is just one of the few programs the Lady Jays get involved in throughout their basketball season.
“We also do Adopt a Family and we do the Mayors Christmas tree,” senior Chiarra Franklin said. “The Mayors Christmas Tree Foundation is where we will meet at the square and gather food to deliver to elderly people or people who can’t get out of their homes.”

One program the basketball girls will be involved in this year is the Sidekick Program. This program will match up each Lady Jay with an elementary “sidekick” to mentor and look over.

“Our new program this year is working with one of the elementary schools, to pair a student who may struggle in school with attendance or what ever it might be, with one of our older girls for them to have someone to look up too and mentor them,” Werner said.

These girls are working hard to dominate the courts while making a difference in their hometown. The Lady Jays’ feel that giving back to the community is a very important part in their program and enjoy making a difference in peoples lives.

“It was a lot of fun, and definitely worth it,” junior Hanna O’Leary said. “It feels good to help others and make a difference, also knowing you are helping make someone’s day is great.”