Women's Basketball | 11/30/2018 3:28:00 PM

    WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – With winter rapidly approaching, the West Liberty men's and women's basketball teams will be partnering with Paree Insurance to host a special Community Engagement event at Wednesday's MEC doubleheader against Shepherd inside the ASRC.
    Several collection stations will be set up at the main gates and on the arena floor where volunteers will collect donations for the Youth Services System's Winter Freeze Shelter in Wheeling. The organization can't accept items of clothing for this event but have provided a list of needed items (see below). Monetary donations will also be accepted.
    Through its Winter Freeze Shelter, Youth Services System (YSS) has opened its doors for nearly a decade to those members of the area's homeless population who are unable to be admitted to traditional homeless shelters during the cold winter months.
    Located on the fourth floor of the YSS' Central Office at 87 15^th Street, the Winter Freeze Shelter is open every night (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.) from Dec. 15 to March 15. Volunteers and community donations from such events as these help provide safe shelter, a warm meal and a warm smile to those in need.
    West Liberty head women's basketball coach Kyle Cooper said Wednesday's event was the brainchild of Lady Hilltopper Development Coordinator – and Paree Insurance employee – Chris Bucon.
    "Working with the Freeze Shelter has always been a passion for Paree Insurance," Cooper said, "so with Chris now on staff with us here and our commitment to reach out as a positive influence in the local community, it was just a natural fit."
    Cooper added that his Lady Hilltopper basketball team has already planned a team activity to use the monetary donations received on Wednesday on a shopping trip to purchase more of the items on the Youth Services System list for the Winter Freeze Shelter.
    "It's especially important during this time of the year to realize how lucky we are as a basketball program and as an institution," Cooper said, "and how important it is for us to keep those things in perspective by giving back to those who may not be as fortunate. Youth Services System is a blessing to so many people in our community and we're honored to be a part of this."
    Doubleheader action gets under way at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday when the Lady Hilltoppers tip off against the Shepherd women. The men's game follows at 7:30 p.m.
    Here's a list of items requested for donations:
       Gloves, hats, ChapStik, body lotion, feminine products, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, batteries, dental floss, hand crank can openers, coffee, paper plates, napkins, disposable cups, lightly used or new extra-long twin sheets (used often on college dorm rooms beds), pillow cases, thin blankets