PARKERSBURG - The Parkersburg High School Archery Club brought the gift of Christmas song to the Wyngate Senior Living Community Friday night for the second year in a row.
A community service project that started as a fundraiser and bingo turned into a way for the students to give back to their elderly community.
"We're just glad to be here," said team spokeswoman Stephanie Myers. "These are good kids."
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Photo by Mandi Cardosi
Parkersburg High School Archery Club member Levi Hewitt puts a Christmas present under the tree of the Wyngate Senior Living Community.
The Big Red Archery Club donated gifts, sang Christmas carols and adopted a resident this year.
"They got presents for all the residents," she said. "They all pitched in."
Myers said the team collected canned foods for the Parkersburg and Vienna Christmas parades, taking first place in the Vienna parade, "in spite of the rain."
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Spokeswoman Stephanie Myers said the Big Red Archery Team has won high school state titles for the past four years, has had all-state members every year and record-breaking scores.
The group participates in at least two community service projects each year, by guidelines given by coach Jim Parsons and Myers. They have participated in Jakes Day with the 4-H organization, handed out ice and water during the power outage last summer and had other projects, she said.
The team is comprised of mostly boys but this year there are three girls.
"And they can shoot," Myers said of the girls on the team. "They've done very well."
Myers said she is glad the team members stick together in all they do.
"They're a really good team," she said. "They stick together and what they do they do together."
At the senior living community, the students put Christmas presents under the tree and sang carols like "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" and "Away in a Manger."
Santa Claus and his helper elf were on hand to pass out Christmas candy to the senior residents. Member of the club Ashley Chittum played the piano.
Members of the team this year are Jeremiah Parsons, Logan Raines, Levi Hewitt, Andrew Waters, Thomas Martine, Shealyn DeLancey, Luke Ballengee, Nathaniel Parsons, Jill Ballengee, Austin Hitt, Levi Cross, Bryan Pugh and Ashley Chittum.
