TALLULAH FALLS, Ga. — The middle school girls basketball team at Tallulah Falls School spent part of its winter season doing more than scoring points.
The Lady Indians organized a “Ballin’ for Books” drive, collecting more than 100 children’s books for families in the neonatal intensive care unit at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.
“It definitely brought our team way closer because we weren’t just practicing drills, but working together for something that matters,” said Evie Purcell, a seventh-grader from Baldwin. “It was honestly so cool to see everyone hyped to help out, and it made our bond on the court feel even stronger. Now, when we play, it feels like we’re a real family because we know we can count on each other for more than just a basket.”
The project’s theme was “playing with heart, giving with purpose.”
Eighth-grader Lily Denard of Cornelia said the idea came from her mother, who works for Northeast Georgia Health System and helps with fundraisers.
“She saw that the cheerleading team did a fundraiser for the animal shelter and wanted to do something similar,” Denard said.
Coach Jenny Long said the team embraced the idea quickly.
“It was actually a pretty neat idea,” Long said. “We collected the books and donated them to the NICU in Gainesville for parents to read to their newborn babies since they are not allowed to have much contact. This was one way they could still hear their voice and connect with their babies.”
For about two weeks, donation bins were placed in the middle school lobby and media center. Players encouraged classmates and teachers to contribute children’s books that would be delivered to the NICU at NGMC Gainesville.
The girls later delivered the books to the hospital, where parents and nurses can use them to help comfort infants who cannot be held as often as families might wish.
NGMC Gainesville shared a photo of the donation on social media before Christmas, thanking Tallulah Falls for teamwork that extends beyond the court.
“It was a really special moment for all of us,” Denard said. “The people who work in the NICU seemed very grateful. It was an amazing experience to be able to do that for the hospital and I’m very glad we did it.”
For Purcell, the effort underscored a lesson bigger than basketball.
“To me, being part of this is super special because it shows that being a basketball player is about way more than just winning games,” she said. “It’s a really great feeling to know that we’re helping other kids get books. I just love that I can use the sport, and I love being able to do something kind for the community and make a real difference.”
