Volunteers at the Son Club at the Ocean City Tabernacle help students with their homework.
Members of the Ocean City High School girls’ basketball team showed their winning spirit during two events that gave a boost to organizations involved with the care and development of children.
At their game on Wednesday night, the players hosted the Best Buddies Club during a halftime show featuring cheerleaders and a color guard.
The team made shirts for the Buddies that resemble game jerseys. Each year, the players hold an event benefiting the Best Buddies Club, an organization that helps children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Then on Thursday, the basketball team had a fun time while visiting with children at the Ocean City Tabernacle’s Son Club, a church-run after-school program.
“It was really fun seeing all the kids smiling and laughing after school,” team member Abbey Fenton said.
The kids at the Son Club came away impressed with the players.
“The OC girls’ basketball team is the best,” said one of the children, Jaclyn Adams.
Members of the basketball team play with the children at the Ocean City Tabernacle's Son Club after-school program.
Both the halftime event with the Best Buddies Club and the visit with the Son Club were part of efforts by the team members to strengthen their ties with the local community.
“It is nice to give back to a town that gives so much to us,” said player Danielle Donoghue.
Brenda Mirsky, president of the Ocean City High School Booster Club, and whose daughter, Lauren, is on the basketball team, said she is amazed by how the players are able to juggle their schedules to take part in local events.
“They really do care about the community and go the extra mile for everybody,” Mirsky said.
On Saturday, Feb. 2, both the Ocean City High School girls’ and boys’ basketball teams will be on hand for the annual Booster Club benefit to raise money for scholarships. The event will be held from 6-9 p.m. at DiOrio’s Circle Café in Somers Point.
The visit at the Son Club is one example of how the players strengthen ties with the local community.
