FOXBURG, Pa. – For the second straight year, the A-C Valley boys’ basketball program reached out to local veterans on Christmas Day visiting disabled vets at the Butler VA Hospital.
“This is our second year visiting the disabled Veterans at the Butler VA,” A-C Valley head coach Andy Rapp said. “We visit each year on Thanksgiving and again on Christmas Day.”
Rapp said the program does the visits because it sets a goal to have at least one team community service project every year.
“The main teaching point and take away are about volunteerism,” Rapp said. “Our players are very appreciative and proud of anybody that is serving and has served our country.”
A-C Valley uses its Hoops for Heroes Crossover Challenge, a season-opening basketball tournament held at the school, as a way to collect donated items to deliver to the disabled vets on Christmas Day.
“The kids really enjoy the Christmas Day visit,” Rapp said. “The veterans really enjoy it just as much too. It really fulfills the kids in true Christmas Spirit.”
Rapp believes that the players gain different things from the event.
“I think each kid gains something different from their own experience,” Rapp said. “They all agree that it makes them realize how much what we are doing makes the veterans feel, no necessarily how it makes them feel. It makes them feel good when they realize how much it means to the disabled vets, that someone cares.
