Booster Club's Devil's Den Returns to Action
The Huntington Booster Club's Devil's Den is returning to action this fall, ready to provide equipment and supplies to young athletes who need it. Located in the basement of J. Taylor Finley Middle School, the 14x5 foot caged area services all district student-athletes in grades 7-12.
Assemblyman James D. Conte helped secure a grant that was used to purchase set-up materials, including shelving, bins, hooks, posters and related items. The Booster Club is seeking donations of new or gently used athletic items, such as bats, baseball gloves, golf clubs, shin guards, soccer balls, lacrosse sticks, cleats, sneakers, tennis racquets, sweat suits, etc.
Coaches are encouraged to contact the Booster Club's Christina Plant (CBPlant@aol.com) to make arrangements to pick-up gear for athletes on their team. The "store" is attractive in design and neat in appearance. It is well-stocked, but needs a continuous flow of additional items, including new socks, tee-shirts and even mouthpieces.
Mrs. Plant handles Devil's Den operations along with fellow Booster Club officials Barbara Cutrone and Carol Scully, and other club members. Those willing to pitch-in and donate either equipment or clothing to the effort can drop the items off at the Finley Middle School main office or the athletic director's office near the gym at Huntington High School during regular school hours.
"The Devil's Den is always open for business," Mrs. Plant said. "It continues to be a work in progress. I found last year that the biggest item that we distributed was cleats. There are so many kids without proper cleats playing all outdoor sports in the fall and spring, it was imperative that they had cleats. I would get requests from some coaches that they needed a certain size and I would promptly deliver them."
The Booster Club is striving to assist athletes who cannot afford to purchase the items they need to participate and compete with their classmates. "I usually seek out the coaches in the beginning of the seasons and ask them if they need anything for their players," Mrs. Plant said. "At Finley, it's easy to get the cleats or equipment to them in the building. They haven't needed as much at the high school, but we are available for any request."
Folks are asked to scour their garages, basements and closets for gear they no longer need and to drop it off or arrange for home pick-up by sending an e-mail to Mrs. Plant.
"We would like to make sure that the coaches are aware of the items and I would love to give them a tour or make it available to them to take any item that they need," Mrs. Plant said. "I wish they were all aware of what we do and how the Boosters are here if they need any item for their players."
The Devil's Den initiative is an effort to maximize participation, provide student-athletes with an improved experience and contribute to a strong foundation for the Blue Devil sports program and its ultimate success.
"I really think the Devils Den works because it is well organized," Mrs. Plant said. "I can get any item a coach needs. If there is something the Devil's Den doesn't have, I just ask my friends or send out an e-mail and the items end up on my porch!"