Farmington High School Girls Basketball Team Gives Back

Submitted by Bob Deasy

It wasn’t that cold Saturday morning, January 29, 2011. But maybe cold is relative. Just ask the clients that stood in line outside St. Elizabeth House in Hartford, waiting to have breakfast. Serving breakfast that morning was the Farmington High School Girls Basketball Team, fifteen girls from their three teams.

You would think that there would be a Farmington Valley of a difference between the men and women being served and the young servers from Farmington. Not the case. The dialogue was on-going, quick, pointed, lively and humorous. “You play football?” “Oh you’re girls’ basketball.” “I played at New Britain, did you beat New Britain?” “Where’s your point guard?” “Let’s go one on one!” And so the conversation went between the clients and the girls. The men and women were smiling, returning the smiles from the girls.

It wasn’t the first time that the team had ventured to one of the busiest social service agencies in the Greater Hartford area. St. Elizabeth House is part of Mercy Housing & Shelter Corporation. Up to 300 people come each day for breakfast and lunch at the St. Elizabeth House Friendship Center Meals Program, six days a week. The girls served breakfast on one occasion last year and they will be back again in April.

Russ Crist, the girl’s Varsity Coach wanted to give the girls an opportunity to give back to the greater community and to allow the girls to experience something out of their normal day to day activity. The night before, the girl’s team lost and by Russ’s own admission, his demeanor after the loss wasn’t very nurturing. Observing his girls in their active and warm conversation to the men and women in the breakfast line, Russ said, “this is what it is all about, giving back and not my attitude after the loss.”

Later that afternoon and evening; the girl’s freshmen, junior varsity and varsity won each of their games, extending a very long day but very rewarding day — not because of the victories but by being servants earlier in the day. Oh by the way, when the girls cleaned up the tables and swept the floors they started to leave. Those men and women left in the dining room stood and heartily gave them a round of applause. This applause was not a typical basketball victory applause. This applause was different!