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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

U-Hi”s Nate Thompson puts aid drive on roll


From left, University High students Kamin Alteneder, Nate Thompson and Bryce Lunden are among those collecting used baseballs, basketballs and similar balls for low-income kids. There are donation bins at all the Valley fire stations. 
 (Liz Kishimoto / The Spokesman-Review)
Treva Lind The Spokesman-Review

Student Nate Thompson has created a motto that kids should have a ball this summer. To him, that means having a basketball, football, soccer ball or playground ball so that children can enjoy sports.

A University High School junior and football player, Thompson has organized a “Having a Ball” drive to collect new or gently used balls for low-income children of families served by the Valley Food Bank.

Thompson, who began the drive this month at U-Hi, is asking people to bring balls to the school, to Spokane Valley fire stations or to the Valley Food Bank at the Spokane Valley Community Center, 10814 E. Broadway Ave. The balls will be distributed in June at the food bank every Wednesday and Thursday.

“This project gives me a chance to pass on the joy that I have had playing sports since first grade,” said Thompson, 17, who also plays basketball and participates in track.

“I know some kids don’t get a chance to (do sports). I just want to pass that opportunity along, maybe, to less fortunate children.”

He is doing the ball drive as a participant in the Seattle Seahawks’ Quest Leadership Challenge, which he heard about from U-Hi football coach Mike Ganey.

The challenge involves one student athlete from each school in the state. Those students in the Seahawks challenge are asked to lead a community sports-related project.

Thompson has volunteered several times at the food bank, so after brainstorming ideas with his mother, Linda Thompson, they thought of the ball drive.

From playing sports, Thompson described learning about “leadership, being a team player, knowing what your role is and getting stuff done – so many things that apply to everyday life.”

He said he wants to collect balls from universal sports that don’t require other equipment – “the ones you can take and play anywhere and just have a ball.”

Thompson asked his friends Bryce Lunden, Kamin Alteneder and Jim Myers to help as team leaders. U-Hi cheerleaders decorated collection barrels for fire stations.

The drive is scheduled to run through the end of this month, and Thompson hopes to gather 1,000 balls.

Volunteers from Macy’s and the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council will help Thompson distribute the balls in early June. Students will help him later in the month.

Thompson, an Eagle Scout, said he enjoys volunteering.

“I’ve been volunteering for a long time,” he said. “I like to give back. I’ve got so much.”

For more information about the ball drive, call Linda Thompson at 922-8383.

Adams PTA honored

The Adams Elementary School PTA group has achieved the title of Outstanding Local Unit for the state of Washington.

In Seattle last week, the 147-member Adams Elementary Parent-Teacher-Student Association received the Washington State PTA Outstanding Local Unit of the Year award. The state recognition goes to only one elementary or high school PTA group, whether small or large, said Laura Tabish, Adams PTSA president.

“Traditionally, the award goes to a larger school on the west side of the state,” Tabish said. “We are actually in the smallest division of PTA.”

On the state traveling plaque for outstanding unit, the last winners from the East Side of the state won back in 1980 for Walla Walla, according to Tabish.

“In PTA, you can apply for a standard of excellence award or an honor unit, so we started two years ago to try to meet all the requirements,” Tabish said. “Everyone can reach a level of excellence or honor unit, and then they take one that stands out from a crowd and give them this award.”

The Adams group was recognized for such steps as partnering with the Sheriff’s Department, adopting a mile of the Centennial Trail, sponsoring age-appropriate drug-resistance education, tying students in with a nearby care center, encouraging different ethnic groups, and funding and supporting a musical production involving all students.

The group also won awards for Honor Unit – gold level, for third-place outstanding newsletter, and for standards of excellence. A few Adams PTSA members will now travel to the national PTA convention in Columbus, Ohio, in June to represent Washington state.

“We’re hoping to share the knowledge we gain at national with all the Spokane PTAs,” Tabish said.

Chester aids Sri Lankans

Chester Elementary School students collected $880 to help with school rebuilding in Sri Lanka.

A Spokane Valley firefighter who went to Sri Lanka to help and a principal from the town of Komari were scheduled to visit Chester last week.

The money was raised through a student coin drive and from the raffle of a quilt that a teacher made.