MANCHESTER – It may be the middle of summer but township student-athletes took some time out and swapped their helmets for helpfulness, taking teamwork off the field and into senior communities.
There were 30 football players who helped seniors with technology at Willow Hall in Leisure Village West. This is part of a Helping Hawks tradition that has been growing in the last few years.
From resetting passwords to finding lost apps, the players patiently walked residents through their digital dilemmas, while chatting about the upcoming season, of course.
One resident commented that the Hawks were not only great athletes, “they are great young men.”
“A great teammate isn’t just being a player on the field but also a player within the community. It’s important to build team camaraderie while answering the call to action by giving back as the young leaders they are on and off the field,” Head Coach Tommy Farrell said.
“Volunteering is never mandatory for our players, so for half of our team to show up today makes me very proud,” he added.
Township Mayoral Aide Judy Noonan noted that students have come into senior communities in the Whiting section of the township previously and that their presence has been a great benefit to seniors in assisting them with their laptops, smart phones and other devices.
Manchester Councilwoman Michele Zolezi has also noted during prior council meetings, the community spirit and teamwork exhibited by the Hawks during prior visits to senior communities within the township for the same purpose of helping seniors understand their devices and also forming an intergenerational bond as part of a community project.
