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 The Warrior Club, which already runs the concession stands at all home games, has taken on new responsibilities this year. The Warrior Club has decided to spread its volunteerism outside of the sports field and help clean up around Sherwood’s campus.

"During the summer, we thought about what we could do to have an impact on the Sherwood sports program and the campus facilities. We drew upon the experience of [parent] Lindsay Golden, who organized a very successful clean-up day for the baseball field prior to the start of last year’s season," says Warrior Club president Steven Bolen. "We decided to try to replicate the baseball field clean-up success across the entire campus."

The days spent cleaning in August and October brought parents, students, staff and alumni together to help make Sherwood a school they can all feel proud to call home. "The vast majority of our clean-up day volunteers come from the Sherwood sports community" Bolen explains. "But we also had a fair number of folks from the broader Sherwood community who joined our effort. A broader base of support for our clean-up day events is good for the Warrior Club, our student athletes, the athletic facilities and the Sherwood campus."

At each one of the clean-ups, volunteers arrived anywhere from 9 am until the clean-up ended at 3 pm. Volunteers did everything from picking up trash to planting trees and flowers. Local companies donated supplies like paint and gardening tools to the cause as well. "We had many very skilled people who donated their time and expertise. We also had some very generous donations of supplies, plants, flowers and money." says Bolen.

One volunteer, parent Pat Mucci, chairperson of the PTSA Beautification Committee, first partnered up with Bolen during the Warrior Club’s annual mulch sale last spring where the Warrior Club donated mulch to the Committee. When it came time to plan the first clean-up day, Bolen asked Mucci to work with him because they shared a passion for making an attractive school. "I continue my involvement because I am impressed with the organization and their dedication to Sherwood," says Mucci, "The Beautification Committee and the Warrior Club have similar goals for the beautification of the campus and [they] are a powerhouse at making things happen and tapping into their membership to get things done."

The Warrior Club received help from inside the school as well. "[Building Services Manager] Keith Snowden and his staff have been very supportive of our efforts. Their support and guidance has been invaluable. Principal Bill Gregory and Athletic Director Jim Meehan have also been very supportive and appreciative of our work around the campus" says Bolen.

Students also came out to help the efforts, like senior Rachel Lewis, who heard about the clean-up day from her soccer coach. "I decided to come help out because it’s the good thing to do," says Lewis, "Ariel Nicholas came with me, Brad Bolen, Nathan Craft, Emily Orsborne, and the whole rest of the soccer team [were there as well]." While some people picked up garbage around the fields, Nicholas and Lewis helped plant flowers. "Me and [Nicholas] planted some bangin’ flowers. We are considering starting our own landscaping company," Lewis jokes.

"Sherwood athletes put in a lot of time, day in and day out, perfecting their sport skills. Warrior Club volunteers feel the least we can do is give these hard working kids sports facilities [and a campus] that they can be proud to compete on and call their own." says Bolen.

The next Warrior Club clean-up day will be in early spring to prepare for the baseball and lacrosse seasons.