On a sun-drenched Thursday morning, Valencia High School’s boys tennis program took a break from the court to help the homeless.
Earlier this month, 30 Vikings gathered to make sack lunches for Bridge To Home, a Santa Clarita-based nonprofit organization that provides shelters to clients throughout the year and operates a 60-bed winter homeless shelter.
Members of the team participate in community-service activities about four times per year, coaches said.
Around 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 8, a handful of players knelt on the baseline of a court just outside the high school as they put oranges, chips and other goodies inside brown paper sacks sitting in cardboard trays.
In all, the team made 46 sack lunches for residents at Bridge To Home’s shelter at 2301 Drayton Street.
“Our job was basically to supply them with lunch and food for the week ahead so they’re not hungry,” said junior Harrison Oliphant.
Other players on the team were excited to get outside and make the lunches during class. In all, it took only about 30 minutes to assemble all the lunches.
Coaches said the activity is something different for the team to build unity during the winter offseason.
“Especially this time of year,” said coach Jen Azevedo. “Just to give back to the community.”
