During their winter break the Newsome High School varsity basketball team collected toys to donate to ECHO in time for the holidays.
The Newsome High School varsity basketball team did not just spend their Christmas break practicing for their Christmas tournament and gearing up for the second half of their season in January; the team also took time during this holiday season to give back to the community.
Inspired by the idea that the basketball team could collect toys and nonperishable food items, Alex Curry, mom to Newsome player Fisher Curry, began asking friends and neighbors about which local charity would be the best to donate to. It was through this search that Curry decided upon Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO).
“I am neighbors with Stacy Efaw, the director of ECHO. I thought it would be good for the boys to give back to the community as a team,” she said. “I love ECHO because its stays all local and they continue to help people up until Christmas Eve, so the team could continue to collect toys and food right up until then.”
After working out the details, Curry went to head coach Barry Jacobs to ask his opinion on a team toy collection. “When I was first approached with the idea to collect toys and food for ECHO, I thought it was a great plan,” said Jacobs. “The idea embodies the spirit of the holidays and it’s great to give back to the community that also supports us. I definitely think this is something the team should continue to do in the future.”
Donations collected by the team included jars of peanut butter and jelly, board games, Barbie’s, race cars, lunch pails, skate boards, dolls, footballs and of course, a basketball. “It feels great to give back as a team,” said Michael Tourgee, a senior on the basketball team. “I hope that it becomes a tradition.”
For more information about the Newsome High School basketball team or to find their game schedule, visit www.newsome.mysdhc.org. Echo is located at 507 N. Parsons Ave. in Brandon. For more information about ECHO, visit www.echofl.org.
