'Hounds lend a hand; Football players rake leaves, pull weeds, clean gutters for community members

Two Fort Scott Community College football players rake leaves at a residence on Horton Street on Saturday during the team's effort to help elderly residents throughout the community clean and care for their yards.(Angelique McNaughton/Tribune)

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FSCC football coaches "lent out" their players for a couple hours on Saturday in an effort to help elderly residents clean and care for their yards.

Players found themselves doing everything from raking leaves and picking up stray branches to pulling weeds and cleaning gutters.

Fort Scott resident William Russell, 83, said his neighbor initially called the college and gave them his name.

Russell said he couldn't turn down the opportunity for a little extra help, but didn't expect as much as he got.

At least 10 football players arrived at Russell's home near Fort Scott High School on Saturday to do "a little raking" and yard work for he and his wife, Velma.

"I thought it would be maybe two or three guys; I didn't expect this," Russell said. "It's nice."

Russell said he wished there was something he could do for the players to return the favor.

"I appreciate them coming," he said.

The football team donated the man-hours to provide yard-work assistance for about six Fort Scott homes.

The "Spring Cleaning" was one of many community service projects scheduled for the Greyhound football team.

On Thursday, the team will accompany Winfield Scott Elementary School students during recess.

In February, the offensive players helped tear up carpet in the sanctuary at Community Christian Church for their first project of the year.

Linebacker Coach Chass Williams said the spring cleaning provided a good opportunity for his team.

"It's good for our kids to get out and help the community," Williams said.