On July 31st, a record breaking storm hit Omaha. The Westside area took huge damage, with debris covering the streets and power outages everywhere. 

Head Varsity Football Coach, Paul Limongi, called off team practices after the storm. The team decided instead to go out and help clean up the neighborhoods. 

“It was really a no-brainer for us,” Limongi said, “We just decided that we’ll shut down practice, gather the guys up at school, and we’re going to go out and help. We feel that when our community needs us, we step up.”

After hours of work, the team finally started seeing some great results. 

“You saw what was there before we started, and then when we were done. We saw how much we helped, and it was really satisfying” Limongi said.

However, clean streets were not the only thing the football team gained from their hard work.

“I think the kids gained a better respect for each other outside of the football field than they ever could. It was a great learning experience for us, and it did a lot of good,” said Coach Limongi, “That’s what our program is all about.”

Even after hours of cleaning, Swanson Elementary School needed a lot of extra help. Senior, Jonny Hurtado, cleaned up both days. 

“The schools needed the help: especially Swanson,” Hurtado said. “The pathway was super messy, so we tried to clean the path. I think a lot of people were super grateful for us.”

The work was exhausting and long. It took around 7 hours to finish cleaning. 

“It was definitely tiring, but the reward is that the community does so much for us,” Hurtado said, “We just wanted to give back a little bit. I mean, it’s Westside Community Schools, and we want to help everyone.”

The football team’s hard work all paid off, and they were very grateful to be able to help the Westside Community when they needed it most. They are already off to a great season, and are all excited for the season to come.