Members of the W.S. Neal High School volleyball team were busy bagging groceries Wednesday with a focus of raising funds for the team.
The team members gathered in two different shifts Wednesday at Brewton’s Belle Foods in Douglas Square and helped cashiers and customers by bagging purchases made at the grocery store from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m.
The purpose of the work was to collect “tips” for bagging the groceries to add to the team’s budget for supplies and expenses of the group.
According to first-year head coach Jason Blaney, the team made $900 Wednesday.
“I was so encouraged by every varsity girl making it to bag groceries and putting in so much extra effort helping bag groceries, people bring stuff to their vehicles or just giving a smile,” Blaney said. “We had such an overwhelming support from the community with this fundraiser raising over $900. Community members that were not even shopping were stopping by to donate. I want to thank the entire community for their support. The donations will be used to help better the program in purchasing uniforms and much needed equipment.
“It will also help in us being able to feed the girls prior to our long away road matches. We will plan on one more fundraiser beginning of August.
“Again, the community showed us so much support and it means the world to the girls and myself and I thank all of you.”
The team will have two summer play dates this summer before beginning their 2013 in August. On Tuesday and Wednesday, July 23-24, the team will travel to Jay to play while the next week on July 30-31, they will take part in a summer tournament in Flomaton.
Blaney and his Lady Eagle volleyball team is scheduled to begin their 2013 season on Thursday, Aug. 29 against Jay with a JV and varsity match that is set to begin at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. respectively.