(Clarion,IA) – The CGD Football and Wrestling team organized a city-wide cleanup last Saturday. From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., the teams collected 'junk' from various areas.
They turned all the scrap metal gathered from county farms into The Rowan Salvage Yard, which generously donated the funds back to the team. T&S of Clarion also pitched in by donating their time and providing dumpsters for the trash.
Volunteering together as a team is a great way for student-athletes to build stronger bonds. A study from the Journal of Sport Behavior found that team-based volunteer activities enhance team unity. Another study from the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology showed that student-athletes involved in team volunteering improved their communication skills by 20%.
Overall, researchers have linked volunteering to better mental health outcomes. A survey by UnitedHealthcare found that 76% of people who volunteered felt healthier, and 94% reported feeling happier.
But the Football team isn’t only helping their team, they’re providing an important function for the town of Clarion. Studies on social cohesion, like those published in the Journal of Urban Affairs, show that clean, well-maintained neighborhoods create stronger social ties, community involvement, and a desire to spend time outside. All of which makes for a happier community.
