The extreme flooding of a few weeks ago is continuing to cause problems, and some of those problems in areas you would not expect.
The flooding hit the Wee Arrows Football fields and snack bar at Raynor Park in Park Layne just before a big Ohio Crush game.
“We couldn’t even get into the park,” said Rachel Suther.
When the water allowed it, they found that the snack bar which was in the process of being remodeled had water more than waist deep. Some of the appliances had been knocked over and the new walls were destroyed.
According to Suther, this was particularly disheartening for the volunteers.
The league had shrunk a bit over the last years and a new group of parents and volunteers with lots of enthusiasm had decided to try to bring the program back to its old strength and size. Improving the snack bar was one of their first projects. Proceeds were to help pay for uniforms and equipment.
“We had a board meeting by the flooded snack bar,” said Suther. Refrigerators had been destroyed, as was food that had been placed there for an upcoming Ohio Crush game.
While registration is going on for Wee Arrows football and cheerleading, volunteers will be trying to get the snack bar up and running again. The group is looking for volunteers with carpentry skills and need some assistance acquiring new refrigerators. Donations of money or snack-related items would also be helpful. If you are interested, check in advance to see what is needed.
Suther was grateful that Community Market replaced their donation of sports drinks without charge.
To register for Wee Arrows football and cheerleading, visit the group’s Facebook page, Twitter account or sign up at the table at the group’s upcoming football camp July 7-11 from 6-8 p.m. at Raynor Park.
With summer sports in full swing and fall sports getting ready to start practices, I think it is important to thank those people who make it possible. People like Rachel Suther, who volunteers with football in the warm months and Upward Basketball in the winter.
Coaching kids’ sports can be a thankless job, but it doesn’t need to be. Those of us watching our sons and daughters play need to remember that those coaches are giving up their own free time to coach. Parents need to do all they can to get their kids to practice and games on time, and properly dressed. It helps if parents police the field for trash and forgotten equipment. Take your turn as team parent and please take the time to thank the coach.
And it doesn’t stop there. Look at those fields. Most of our fields are maintained by the unpaid volunteers who run the leagues, not the schools, townships or town. There is not a team of groundskeepers that runs out and covers the field with a tarp when it starts to rain like at the Reds or Indians games.
In our real world a team of volunteer mowers often mow the playing field before they mow their own lawns. Sometimes they use their own mowers. Volunteers like Bucky Brown in Park Layne are so important.
And as Rachel Suther explained, snack bars are the same way.
If you know a volunteer, or see one in action, be sure to say thanks. They are not expecting anything. However, a smile and thanks goes a long way. And it might be fun to be a volunteer yourself.
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