Central cheerleaders do their part and more
By Steve Williams
From the Big Kahuna Wing Festival to the Fantasy of Trees, Central High School’s cheer team, coached by Kara Clark and Kira Lawson, has been busy and versatile with community service.
The CHS cheerleaders volunteered at the BKWF with a “Set-up Crew.” This year’s festival benefited the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital’s Mental Health Initiative Fund, Food4Vols and more.
Then came a need for Hurricane Relief in October. Central cheerleaders staffed a donation drop point at Pratt’s Country Store. They helped arrange donations, filled the dumpster and trailers, and organized items.
Helping Lonsdale Elementary School learn cheers and dances to use at their newly formed Lonsdale Sports League was right down the CHS cheer team’s alley.
And then it was time for Fantasy of Trees benefiting East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. The Central cheerleaders have a long-standing tradition of volunteering at this event. They enjoyed decorating cookies and painting faces for attendees.
HALLS CHEER TEAM: Halls Coach Cheri Duncan said her cheer team “worked the Cookie Decorating and Handprint Potholders” at the Fantasy of Trees.
Senior Ava Perry ended her prep career of helping others at this favorite holiday event around Thanksgiving.
“This is my fourth year working with Fantasy of Trees,” said Ava. “I always look forward to working with kids in attendance. Children’s Hospital is a worthy cause and I am thankful to have been a part of their fundraising efforts.”
WEST VALLEY MIDDLE: Coach Josh Ballard’s girls basketball team, known state wide as the Lady Wolves and one of its best, partnered with Fellowship Church Knox to supply a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.
“We helped a family by providing a Thanksgiving basket,” said Ballard.
“Fellowship church supports and provides a meal for over 150 families in the Knoxville area. Our players and families are blessed to provide a full Thanksgiving dinner and gift card to a family.
“The players went shopping together to get all the food and fixin’s the family would need,” added Coach Ballard. “After shopping, and preparing the basket, we were able to meet with and deliver the basket to the family.
“It is such a privilege to be a part of a program that is willing to donate time and money out of the abundance in which we have so graciously been given.”
