Neptune's football team helped assist a visiting group from World Changers, a Christian group that travels to various locations to perform charitable works.
When they're done with their work off the field, the Scarlet Fliers and running back Michael Peavy (above) are hoping for a big season on the field this fall.
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NEPTUNE - When Neptune head football coach John Fiore heard through a Board of Education member that a large contingent from the Christian charity group
World Changers was going to be setting up shop at Neptune High School for a week this summer and needed help unloading several trucks' worth of supplies, he knew just the group to help.
"I had the guys come over and help them out,'' Fiore said. "We want to show the community a different side of our student-athletes than what they may normally see and get to see them as people, while also showing the kids that it's not all about football.''
A turnout of about 50 players from Neptune's football team spent about two hours unloading three trucks on Thursday morning, and they also helped to put together about 375 cots for the large group of World Changers volunteers who will be staying on them while they are in the area for a week performing various charitable works. They will be helping to restore run-down properties in the area as well as paint the Asbury Park Boys and Girls Club, according to Fiore.
"Nick Williams on the Board (of Education) alerted us that they were coming and that would have three or four semi trucks full of stuff,'' Fiore said. "I ran it by the kids, and they were gung-ho to help.''
"We had to take boxes out of trailers and set everything up in all the rooms,'' said Neptune junior offensive lineman Frank Martuscelli. "It's about helping out the community.''
Fiore said this is one of several charitable causes that he has involved his team in, as he said players from the Scarlet Fliers have also been involved in the Head Start program for the youth in Neptune as well as work with senior citizens. He took a cue from veteran Neptune boys basketball coach Ken O'Donnell, who has taken his players to the children's hospital at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune to help out and serve the community.
"It helps the community and it makes a better name for us,'' Martuscelli said. "It shows we're not just dumb football players or however people think about us.''
It inadvertently also served as a bonding exercise for a team that has high expectations this season in Fiore's third year at the helm. The Scarlet Fliers only lost two starters on offense and return electric tailback Michael Peavy, a first-team DigitalSports Legends of the Fall selection as a junior, as well as quarterback Lem Walker in a bid to return to their customary place among the Shore's elite.
"We see each other at workouts, but this was a different thing and a different atmosphere, so it was good for the team,'' Martuscelli said. "We're looking to come together, because we're going for the playoffs and a state title and we're trying to go undefeated this season.''