Impromptu slumber party shows kindness of community

The Liberty Bell Mountain Lions held an impromptu slumber party in the Lake Roosevelt gym last Tuesday after their basketball game with the Raiders, due to the ice storm that night.

The junior varsity games had been canceled so that the varsity games could be held earlier and Liberty Bell could get back home before the weather became too frightful. But frightful it was, as an ice storm hit before the games were over.

The Liberty Bell bus driver and coaches discussed at halftime during the boys’ game whether it would be wise to drive home in such conditions. The driver noted that the windshield couldn’t stay clear of ice, and it was decided to stay the night.

The Raider boys helped lay wrestling mats in the gym for about 25 Mountain Lions to sleep on. LR staff members Sheila Darnold, Nancy Kuiper, and Patty Desautel helped round up volunteers, braving the storm to collect and deliver blankets and sleeping bags for the overnight guests.

Superintendent Paul Turner bought frozen pizzas from Harvest Foods, which donated bottled water for the cause. Turner commended Principal Mark Herndon’s handling of the situation, and Herndon in turn commended Turner.

“I’m very proud of the community, the staff, and students who came together to help the other team,” Herndon said.

Herndon noted that the Mountain Lions were gracious guests and kept everything clean. They enjoyed the pizza, cooked in a rec room. The girls danced to Michael Jackson songs while the boys rolled their eyes at them and shot baskets. They used the school’s Wi-Fi to do homework or check their Facebook accounts.

Early the next morning, LR bus garage staff helped Liberty Bell to put chains on their bus and get on their way at about 7.