Ashley Harmon seemed confident of a win Wednesday night. As the fifth-grader's team sat back, the opponents wildly threw balled pieces of paper into a trash can.
"I think we're going to win," Harmon said. "Look at the way they're shooting."
Unfortunately, Harmon's team finished with a final score of 52-30.
Trash can basketball was part of an event organized by MSU Circle K called "Turn Off the TV week." Throughout the past week and a half, Circle K has organized events at Glencairn Elementary School, including Science Night and Theater Night.
The group concluded its events with a night devoted to games and team building Wednesday. Other events included building a tower out of marshmallows and toothpicks, as well as human foosball, in which children sat in stationary chairs kicking a ball.
Circle K is the collegiate division of the Kiwanis International clubs. The group of volunteers is dedicated to addressing community needs and helping children in areas such as health, nutrition and development. The MSU chapter of Circle K received a $500 grant from Circle K International to sponsor the events at Glencairn.
Each event at the elementary school was put on by a different member of Circle K. Physiology sophomore Kate Rustem was in charge of Wednesday's events.
"(This is) teaching the kids there's a lot of different games you can play aside from video games," Rustem said.
Fifth-grader Izzy Morton attended two of the events during the past two weeks, but said he enjoyed Wednesday's games and sports night the best.
"This is probably the best experience I've had at any of them," Morton said after his team won the trash can basketball competition.
Sara Buccilli, president of MSU Circle K, said the school events provide a good alternative to television.
"We focus on things that (children) can do that promote working with other people and having fun and not watching TV," Buccilli said.
The amount of volunteers was impressive, said Glencairn School Association Co-President Jeanne Maguire. It was helpful to have so many MSU students lend a hand because it helps get children excited, she added.
"The kids get a chance to see the MSU volunteers have fun doing the activities, and that gives them the opportunity to get involved and have fun," she said.
