Demons become Christmas angels for a family

It is a big responsibility when the name of your school is also the name of your hometown.

Nobody knows that better than the Warner Robins High School Demons, who consider it part of their tradition of excellence to help others in the community.

This year, one of their service projects was to make sure Christmas was merry for a local family. The football team and the cheerleaders adopted a family for Christmas. The football players collected toys, books, coats and clothes for a family from C.B. Watson Primary School, while the cheerleaders collected pantry and toiletry items.

"Our community always supports us on the field and so this is just our way of giving back to our community," said Brandon Lee, a senior football player for the Demons.

After wrapping the gifts, representatives from the football team and the cheerleaders, along with Warner Robins High School head football coach and athletic director Bryan Way and head cheerleading coach Ami Lenderman, dropped off the gifts at the school.

"Our hearts were deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support from Warner Robins High School," said Sheila Kendrick, counselor at C.B. Watson. "The football team and cheerleaders, in collaboration with Ms. Ami Lenderman and Coach Bryan Way adopted one of our families in need for the Christmas season. A wish list was provided; however, they went above and beyond what the family had asked."

When the original list was requested from the football team, the items requested were just for the children in the family. Players were concerned that the parents would not receive anything, so they brought in gifts such as a coats, sheets, towels and books.

"The importance of today was working together and helping someone else. Football is all about being there for each other so it is just applying a lesson from football to real life," said Avion Canion, a junior Demon football player.

"They have ensured that this family will have a very Merry Christmas. Their generosity will forever be appreciated. Mr. Steve Monday, principal of Warner Robins High School, has outstanding students that represent the school and community well," Kendrick said.

This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 9:35 PM with the headline "Demons become Christmas angels for a family ."