Members of the Marshalltown High School football team, along with Head Coach Adam Goodvin, did some yard work Tuesday at the Marshalltown Police and Fire Station, 24 N. Center St.

Goodvin and the football team assisted Christopher Jones, who is the Police Department’s captain of support services, with landscaping work, which included pulling weeds and moving mulch. Jones said because of the hot weather, some of the planters had grown out of control.

In order to solve this issue, Jones reached out to the high school, looking for people who wanted to volunteer.

From there, Goodvin said he received a call from Eric Weeden, the high school’s juvenile court liaison, about having some of the football players — who do voluntary workouts at the high school — help at the police and fire station.

“They just needed some help with this landscaping stuff outside the police station and it was another opportunity for our kids to get out and help out the community,” Goodvin said.

The football program has done projects like this before in addition to yearly fundraisers, which include doing yard work for community members.

Jones described the football program’s help on Tuesday as wonderful, and something that would help them understand what work is done at the police department.

“[They’re] building and able to show their respect for Marshalltown and the city of Marshalltown by coming out and helping us out,” Jones said.

For future projects the police department may have, Jones said they will contact the high school. It is something they’ll look at in the future.

Goodvin said the high school is willing to provide the help when needed.

“It’s good for the kids,” he said. “I think if anyone, you know, reaches out to the high school, who wants help in one way or another, we’re more than willing to find a good group of kids that are willing to work hard and help out in any way we can.”

Goodvin said having the football team active in the community is very important and that the sport of football is a lot bigger than a game.

“I think the game of football, especially at the high school level, is a lot bigger than just the game. Getting these guys out here and being able to help out, it means a lot to members of the community,” Goodvin said. “We try to take advantage of that every time we can and I think the guys see how much they’re helping out. It’s just an overall good experience.”

——

Contact Sam Stuve at 641-753-6611 or at sstuve@timesrepublican.com