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by Solomon Ladvienka
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BAKERSFIELD, Calif KBAK/KBFX — The Shafter General’s Varsity football team was seen practicing early Saturday morning. After finishing their season nearly a month ago, five players and staff hit the Shafter streets and went door knocking picking up Christmas trees as a way to spread holiday cheer.
For a third year, Shafter Head Football Coach Jerald Pierucci has rallied his boys to help raise money within the community which helps funds their football program.
“Unless you live here, Shafter is a really close knit family as far as a city goes,” said Coach Pierucci. “Anytime I can have my guys go out and kind of serve the community in a way, so people can see and shake hands, and have the opportunity to talk to the guys that they watch on Friday nights and root for and support financially. Not only whatever they may do, I think it's good for the community to see them in a light, other than having a helmet on.”
Stand out players, Quarterback Ezekial Osborne and Mariyon Sloan highlight the significance of community involvement, noting the support they receive at games and the home field advantage it provides.
“It's important because of how much they support us,” said Quarterback, Ezekiel Osborne. “You see it every game, how many people come out and support and it just screaming for us. And it really does help that home field advantage that our community gives us. So, it's great to just give back and also they bless us so much. Also having this as a fundraiser, and it blesses our program.”
“It's great just meeting people,” said Sloan. “Seeing when we get to go to their houses, them seeing people on the football team that they see out there on the field, and just seeing their smiles, seeing how their days just uplifted by seeing us and having conversation with us.”
As the team made their rounds, Shafter's Mayor, Chad Givens, who got his tree removed, emphasized the importance of these interactions, noting the team's growing community support and the personal connections made.
“It's actually been really nice to see them get outdoor, knock in the community, talk about doing this,” said Mayor Givens. “It's grown tremendously, which is really nice to see, but it's nice because they put a face for the football guys; they put a face behind the helmet. Now everyone knows them on the field, but now we need to see it face to face.”
Coach Pierucci doesn’t want this to be the only community service his student athletes doing. So, be on the lookout for them in the community in the new year.
