Straughn’s high school football team and Gridiron Girls came together and gave back to a part of the community that has supported the school so much on Thursday afternoon.

Hams, canned food and fresh fruit were delivered to five families yesterday by members of the team and squad to complete the first-ever community give-back event.

“We started a point and accountability system this year and one of the things we wanted to improve on was community service,” SHS assistant football coach Ray Wilson said. “(SHS assistant) Coach (John) Fussell has always done a little bit with the baseball team with the trash pick-up, and taking them to the nursing home. We wanted to improve a little bit in what we do in football.”

Wilson said the response to bringing in canned food for the families was good.

“We’ve got some fruit donated by Winn-Dixie, and the hams were donated by Hart’s Country Store,” he said. “We appreciate that.”

Wilson said hopefully next year, there will be more families the team will deliver to.

“We’d like to have 10 that we’re shooting for,” he said.

More importantly, Wilson said giving back to the community is something good for the players.

“As much support as we get here at Straughn from our community as far as school-related activities and athletics — it’s always good when you can give something back,” Wilson said.