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Big Bend athletes, coaches help set up beds for people transitioning out of homelessness

Posted at 6:29 PM, Dec 26, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-27 06:15:39-05

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Westgate is a housing community in Tallahassee that aims to help individuals transitioning out of homelessness. Two new buildings will provide long term, low cost housing for people. One of those buildings is nearing completion.

When they're done, 54 people will call each new building home. On Thursday, along with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Big Bend athletes and coaches from five different schools took it upon themselves to help get those rooms ready, setting up beds for the new occupants.

"That's what it's all about," said Lincoln head football coach Quinn Gray. "It's the Christmas holidays."

The spirit of the holidays is what drove over two dozen Tallahassee athletes and coaches to give back.

"What better way to celebrate Christmas than to help forty families move into a home? I couldn't turn it down," said Lincoln's Jeremiah Brown.

"Someone's blessed us, someone's given back to us so we just want to be able to do that for those that may not have an opportunity or are less fortunate," added Charlie Ward, the head boys basketball coach at Florida High.

Five different schools that are rivals in play, but came together to make this holiday one to remember.

"It was a no brainer for all of us to try and get as many helpers as we could out here," said Florida High head football coach Jarrod Hickman. "You can throw all that other stuff away. Now it's just about being together as a Tallahassee community. Just trying to help our community out and try to give back the best way we can."

"The community is what drives them," said Josh King, director of Leon County's FCA. "The support of the community behind their different schools, they wouldn't be able to do what they do without it. It's giving back to that as well."

"Competition on the field, but we let it go as soon as we step off," said Brown. "That's all it is. It's all one big family."

One big family who came together to make this community, just a little bit better.