Shorecrest Athletics, Compassion in Action
Source/Author: Matt Thompson, Asst Athletic Director
September 15, 2016
As St. Petersburg area students headed back to school in mid-August, nearly 300,000 of their counterparts in Louisiana were displaced due to catastrophic flooding throughout many parts of the state. One small act of compassion by the Shorecrest Athletic Department enabled the students at St. Amant High in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, to get back some sense of normalcy with a high school football game.
While managing the Shorecrest @ChargersBeMore Twitter account, Assistant Athletic Director Matt Thompson saw a tweet from a coach in Louisiana whose school was affected by the floods. Though school was back in session and classrooms restored, the St. Amant High football team was in need of basic equipment. “They lost most, if not all of their equipment in the floods." Matt explained. "The tweet had the coach's contact info so I reached out to him the next day.”
The Shorecrest Athletic Department donated a number of footballs and various athletic equipment to help the St. Amant Gators get back in the game. At their home opener on September 9, the Gators won 50-14 using a Shorecrest Chargers game ball.
Coach Dwayne Thomassee, Defensive Coordinator for St. Amant High, wrote, “I just want to thank you for the act of kindness and generosity from you and your school. I received the package you sent just in time for our home opener. Our school district flew the game ball, which was one that you sent to us, by helicopter. We appreciate what you guys have done for us! Thank you, you guys are first class.”
