Hoop Stars Help Salvation Army

They’ll be rivals come Thursday afternoon, but for one night the girls basketball players from and joined together to help deliver Christmas joy to Long Island children in need.

Glenn High School senior Allison McKenna works out in the cramped gym at the East Northport . Along the way she learned about the organization’s annual holiday drive, called the Angel Tree Program.

This year’s drive drew applications from more needy families than the Salvation Army could accommodate. Salvation Army Captain Lolita Sanchez capped its program at 314 families – up to 700 children – many from nearby Huntington Station.

“Donors take tags that list the child’s name, gender, age and their wish,” Sanchez said. “People will go get one item or the whole request. We’re just so happy for all the help.”

So began the process of organizing wish lists, collecting donations and then sorting the goods. That’s where McKenna and her teamwork came into play. She enlisted teammates and the rival Commack girls basketball team. Wednesday night they gathered to help sort and bag the holiday goodies for needy families.

“It’s going to be intense on the court, but right now we’re all friends,” said McKenna, who won a Suffolk title in basketball last spring and a state championship in volleyball last month. “We’re working together for a good cause.”

“We’re stacking presents in bags for each family,” Commack freshman Chelsea Shultz said. “It feels good helping the less fortunate.”

An otherwise spacious gym has been transformed into a staging area lined by row after row of oversized garbage bags to store clothes and toys earmarked for each family. Commack and Glenn players helped with the massive task of putting it all together. 

“It’s a good thing for the kids to be involved and to understand there are people in their community in need,” Glenn Coach Andy Athanas said. 

Though Commack and Glenn parted ways, it won’t be for long. The two girls basketball teams play a non-league contest Thursday at 4 p.m. in Elwood.

That’s what made the display of teamwork at the Salvation Army all the more remarkable. 

“We do live in an affluent part of the world. Sometimes you don’t notice that there are people who on the outside might be doing OK but really aren’t,” Commack Coach Dennis Conroy said. “To bring the kids in touch with the needs of the community is a very healthy thing.”

The Salvation Army stopped collecting for Angel Tree on Monday. But donations are welcome year round, Sanchez said. As for the gift bags waiting to be delivered in time for Christmas, families can pick up the holiday packages on Dec. 21. 

For for at least one collection of teenaged girls, the gift was in the giving of their time. 

“That’s 300-plus families the [Salvation Army] is providing for,” Athanas said. “That’s pretty special.”