Ballin' for Books

It takes a special group of kids to make an impact in their community. The MS girls basketball team not only collected buckets on the court this winter, they collected books for those in need.

"It definitely brought our team way closer because we weren't just practicing drills, but working together for something that matters," says 7th-grader Evie Purcell of Baldwin. "It was honestly so cool to see everyone hyped to help out, and it made our bond on the court feel even stronger. Now, when we play, it feels like we're a real family because we know we can count on each other for more than just a basket."

Jenny Long's team came together to form a 'Ballin for Books' drive. Their goal behind the project was 'playing with heart, giving with purpose.'

"My mom came up with the idea," says 8th-grader Lily Denard of Cornelia. "She works for the Northeast Georgia Health System and helps with fundraisers. She saw that the cheerleading team did a fundraiser for the animal shelter and wanted to do something similar."

"It was actually a pretty neat idea," adds Long. "We collected the books and donated them to the NICU in Gainesville for parents to read to their newborn babies since they are not allowed to have much contact. This was one way they could still hear their voice and connect with their babies."

For about two weeks, the girls had donation bins placed in the lobby of the middle school and in the media center. They called on their peers to bring children's books that would in turn be donated to the NICU at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.

The Lady Indians had a heart to deliver the books to the NICU, where parents and nurses would be able to help comfort babies who can't be held.

The girls gathered more than 100 books for NICU families. NGMC Gainesville posted a photo on their social media account before Christmas in gratitude of Tallulah Falls' 'teamwork that extends far beyond the court.'

"It was a really special moment for all of us," adds Denard. "The people who work in the NICU seemed very grateful. It was an amazing experience to be able to do that for the hospital and I'm very glad we did it."

"To me, being part of this is super special because it shows that being a basketball player is about way more than just winning games," adds Purcell. "It's a really great feeling to know that we're helping other kids get books. I just love that I can use the sport, and I love being able to do something kind for the community and make a real difference."