The Claremore Zebras football team was in action off the field Friday, helping clean up the badly damaged property of a well-known business owner in town.
The coach said even though some of his players were affected by the tornado, he wanted to give back, so dozens of them strapped on gloves and went to work on the grounds, raking, banging with hammers and clearing away debris from the home — all to help a woman who's spent her career helping others.
About 30 Claremore High School football players were hard at work practicing.
This time, they're not trying to win games, but they're still united as a team. Senior Trip Jackson said it's not easy to see your hometown destroyed like this, but it feels good to give back.
“It definitely took a long time, but we got it all done,” Jackson said.
Coach Jarrett Hart said people are hurting, including kids on his own team.
“We have some kids here with us today who have had their property vandalized or ruined and are here today to try and help someone else,” Hart said.
The players worked to clear away debris, rebuild fences and remove whatever they could.
“That's where the creativity comes in,” homeowner Christina Largent said. “Right now we're using cinder blocks as hammers.”
Largent said the fence allowed her dogs to live here again. She owns Darrell's Barber Shop and cuts the hair of one of the coaches, which is why the team was here. The tornado destroyed her home and her shop.
“It means I'm valued,” she said, “that what I do for a living is worth something. That's why I'm going to rebuild.”
It was an act of triumph for a wounded town.
Largent said she wants people to know there's a lot of work to be done both at work and at home and the need for help remains great.
