Hornets Give Back Despite Loss

Last Sunday afternoon, after a tough first game of the season on Friday, the Roswell Hornets football team put aside their disappointment by rolling up their sleeves to help the local community during The Drake House's "Miss Mary's Crankin' Ice Cream Social" charity event.

Dozens of Roswell players responded to the call for help by The Drake House, a crisis center for homeless women and children in North Fulton. They assisted in handling garbage clean up and teardown needs after the event was finished late Sunday afternoon, according to the Roswell High School Touchdown Club.

"This is just what we do," said Offensive Coordinator John Ford, community service liaison for the school's football program, which has a long history of giving back to the community. "Our boys work hard at everything they do and this was no exception.

The Drake House event was especially important to the team considering several players have benefitted from the non-profit's programs in the past.

"Our community is part of who we are. When you are in need of help, organizations like The Drake House are there for you. So anything we can do to help them back, we are glad to do," said Alex Porter, senior offensive lineman. 

Beyond their service at Sunday's event, the team gives back in other areas as well. Just this year, they have donned jerseys and Chips Nation wristbands to send a team photo to Chip Madren, a local 14-year-old boy battling brain cancer, as a show of support. The team also helped set up for this year's Roswell Relay for Life, which took place at Roswell High School in April.