Astros prepare 47K meals

Teams can grow in any number of ways.

And Meg Lyons, the varsity boys volleyball coach and a school psychologist at Shepard High School, perhaps understands that better than most educators.

“One of the main messages that we have instilled in the volleyball program is to work as a team both on and off the court,” said Lyons, who took her team to Feed My Starving Children this week.

They volunteered with the softball and boys tennis teams. Together they prepared and packaged more than 47,000 meals for the organization, which feeds children in many of the poorest regions of the world.

“Through volunteering we are able to still use our teamwork skills to help those in need, which is one of the most rewarding experience one can imagine. Our program was lucky enough to work with the softball and tennis teams this year and we hope to have the opportunity again!” she added.

Varsity softball coach Kelsey Clifford has brought her players to FMSC the past couple of years. She likes how the experience affects teenagers.

“Service naturally creates a mental shift from ‘me’ to ‘we.’ Shepard softball strives to put selflessness at the top of our character pillars. We know that practicing giving is something we all have the ability and access to do through our time, attention and care,” Clifford said.

Lyons agreed that volunteering helps high school students mature and grow.

“One of the main messages that we have instilled in the volleyball program is to work as a team both on and off the court. Today’s experience allowed us to collectively and productively work as a team and, as their coach, it was awesome to see the boys work together in an environment that doesn’t require a gym,” she said.

“It was a wonderful thing to witness great things get accomplished by a series of small tasks,” Clifford added.