Swish! Basketball Teams Serve at My Friends House

Last year LCA’s basketball teams — both girls and boys — volunteered at My Friends House, in Plano. Lynn Meger, head coach of the LCA girls basketball team, and Cole Johnson, her counterpart for the boys program, wanted to get their players together to serve the community.

Top: Boys and girls basketball team are happy to serve at My Friends House.

Left: Emma Kampe, cleaning up the landscaping in front of My Friends House.

Girls of the basketball team gather together for a quick photo with their coaches.

Left to right: Coach Lynn Meger, Kate Dunlap, Kendall Droesch, Harper Hanshaw, Tatum Plunk, Emma Kampe, Coach Jennifer Keathley, Macie Damon, and Lexi Thomas.

My Friend’s House provides a space for young children and teens to escape from poverty, abuse, neglect, and homelessness. It got its name because if someone asked a teen where he lived, he could comfortably reply, “I’m staying at my friend’s house,” rather than saying a shelter.

Coach Meger was already familiar with My Friend’s House and knew it would be a great project for the basketball program. She wanted the students to give of themselves physically, but also take them out of their comfort zone. She contacted the organization to find out what its needs were.

Together, the LCA athletes helped spruce up benches, planted flowers, cleaned up the yard, trimmed trees, and painted. They were joined by their coaches and parents to assist in improving the home’s curb appeal. “In general, it’s important to serve others,” says Jennifer Keathley, a girls basketball coach, “but at a Christian school, thinking beyond yourself is very important to all of us.”

The students came away tired but also exhilarated. “When they finished,” says Coach Meger, “they felt good about what they did for their community. They learned to give without being recognized.”

Boys on the basketball team bring the benches back to life with a fresh coat of paint to enhance the curb appeal of My Friends House.