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Members of the Charles Henderson basketball team have to pay for their own shoes and jerseys – the equipment isn’t funded by the school.

So when some of the players needed help purchasing the gear, the coaches decided to start a fundraiser that gives players the chance to earn it.

“This program is to help kids who have problems paying for it and it kind of took off from there,” said Assistant Coach Shannon Powell. “We had eight kids in the beginning that needed help raising the money and then we just kept it going because we had a lot of response from people in the community that were interested. Now we’re doing it to benefit the basketball program in general, to help us cover costs such as the tournaments we travel to. All funds raised go strictly to the basketball program.”

By doing yardwork and other household chores, Powell said the players get to develop an extra sense of work ethic while also helping the community.

“It lets them earn what they need while helping people that need help,” Powell said. “It teaches them to work for what they need instead of just asking for it and having it given to them. I think lessons like that will benefit them later on in life. Anything you get, you have to work for.”

Powell said those lessons also translate to the court.

“(Head) coach (Doug) Branson and I are focused on doing the little things right when it comes to practice,” Powell said. “When it comes to basketball, if you do the little things right, those little things will turn into big things.”

For more information on the program or to request the team’s help with a household project, contact Powell at powells@troyschools.net.