Members Athena Elliot, Mary-Kathyrn Riddle, and Hatherly Armfield helped AFG with the raffle, where the proceeds go to their service projects. Photo Credits: AFG Instagram
Scarlett Rupp, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn
Mary-Kathryn (MK) Riddle, a senior at Watauga High School, takes an active leadership role in Athletes for Good (AFG), a service-based club at the high school. Being part of a leadership committee requires commitment and dedication, both core values of which Riddle strives to promote among fellow club members. Riddle shares what it means to be a part of the senior-led club.
“My role in AFG is being one of the four seniors on the leadership team,” Riddle said. “With this, we help Ms. Wellborn to organize the meetings and projects while running social media and anything else she may need from us.”
Donna Wellborn, an English teacher, is the founding advisor. Her involvement is deeply valued and well-recognized by all the club’s members.
“Ms. Wellborn is our club advisor and is also the teacher who started this club here at Watauga,” Riddle explained. “She does so much for every student and every cause that comes her way.”
AFG participates in various community service projects. These projects are planned well in advance and organized during the monthly meetings held before school, where members can discuss new opportunities.
“Our service projects often involve after-school trips to the locations that we have dedicated our project to that month,” Riddle said. “For example, we make care packages for our local nursing homes every year and every member has the opportunity to come and help us hand out those bags to the recipients.”
AFG supports and takes part in several local efforts to benefit the community. For instance, AFG organized to help a community member in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. This generous effort inspired an idea from one of the members in the club to establish a free clothing store for individuals in need of clothing items but are unable to buy them.
“We called this ‘The Care Closet,’” said Riddle. “The Care Closet was a place for members of Watauga County and all surrounding counties to come and shop for clothing for free in a time of need. These clothes were donated by local community members and we even had a truckload of 12,000 lbs of clothing donated from a community in Georgia.
AFG was enthusiastic to participate in the relief efforts and emphasized the importance of every community member’s contributions, no matter how small.
“Every single member of this club makes so much of an impact on the people we serve through this club,” said Riddle. “This club wouldn’t be what it is without every single member in it. It takes everyone’s participation and generosity to be able to do everything we accomplish.”
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