The Columbus High School boys basketball team has a new fan in Judith Ross.
The Columbus resident was one of several people the Falcons helped Thursday morning as part of their annual effort to give back to the community.
Led by coach Sammy Smith, the Falcons handed out $150 worth of gift cards to shoppers at the Columbus Food Giant.
Ross, who had a cart filled to the brim, was shocked to be approached by senior Sam Doughty and two other Falcons. When she learned she was going to receive one of the $25 gift cards, she couldn”t help but smile and praise the generosity of the Falcons.
“It is wonderful. It is awesome. I am overwhelmed,” said Ross, who was shopping for her two teenage and a godson who are with her for the holidays.
Ross, who works with senior citizens, said she prefers to give than to receive. She didn”t know the Falcons were going to be at Food Giant helping people pay their bills. She also didn”t know Food Giant again matched the amount Columbus High donated.
“I just want everyone to have a wonderful, awesome holiday,” Ross said. “I want to be able to do whatever I can to help make that possible.
“I think this is so awesome. You don”t see it a whole lot. I think it is just wonderful and it is something we should do a lot more often.”
Smith has given back to the community for several years now. He said he always was taught if you give back you will receive. He hopes that message resonates with his players.
Judging from the turnout Thursday, it continues to stick. Former Falcons Phillip Morris, a sophomore at Southwest Mississippi Community College, and Orlando Smith, a senior at Mississippi Valley State, were with the 2010-11 Columbus High boys team at Food Giant. Both said they appreciate the message Smith is sending and wanted to be in Columbus to help show the younger players in the program that is means a lot to everyone associated with CHS.
“We always try to come back,” said Morris, a point guard at SMCC. “We have a lot of young guys here, so they really don”t know what is going on and to know we”re here to help them.”
Said Smith, who played in a game, “I think it is good for the elderly and that they”re giving back to the community. It feels good to be a part of it.”
Hearing those words and seeing the lessons his younger players learn means more to Smith than any present he will receive this Christmas.
“One lady said she has never won anything and somebody has never given her anything without a ”gimme” attached to it,” said Smith, who has been giving back to the community for the past four to five years. “She asked the kids,” What is the gimme?” They said, ”No ma”am. We”re just trying to do something that is right. … It is heartfelt they see stuff like this so now they can go home and be more appreciative and people can be more appreciative of just winning a basketball game.
“The game is not won until you learn how to do things like this.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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