Number of Participants: 32
Hours Donated: 5
Value of Time Served: $5,566
Event Type: Civic & Community
Activity: Wrestling
School: Homer Senior High School
Date: January 19, 2026
Location:
Homer Senior High School
South West Street, Homer
NY
About:
The Homer Wrestling program continued its strong commitment to community service by partnering with the Mary Nelson Youth Center for a unique and impactful Amazon Mystery Box Giveaway that supported families in need while also reducing waste.
Over the weekend, Homer Wrestling student-athletes helped distribute hundreds of unclaimed or returned Amazon boxes filled with mystery items, giving these goods a second life and turning what could have been discarded into valuable resources for the community. The initiative brought excitement to local families while reinforcing the idea that simple acts of service can have a lasting and meaningful impact.
The effort began Friday night, January 16, when the Homer Wrestling JV and varsity boys teams traveled to Liverpool to prepare for Sunday’s event. Wrestlers and coaches worked together to load approximately 600 boxes into a U-Haul truck for redistribution. On Sunday, January 18, the boys and girls of Homer Wrestling handed out every box to families in attendance. In addition, the team collected approximately 50 boxes of non-perishable food items for Catholic Charities of Cortland County, further extending the reach of their service.
Alongside the box and food distribution, the program also accepted monetary donations through Venmo and an online donation link. 100% of the funds raised were donated directly to the Mary Nelson Youth Center to support its ongoing work helping families in need.
Wrestlers, coaches, and parent volunteers described the experience as both rewarding and inspiring, especially after meeting Dr. Mary Nelson and Bree and her son, Manny. Their dedication to serving others left a lasting impression on everyone involved.
Dr. Mary A. Nelson praised the student-athletes, stating, “The dynamic young men of the Homer High School wrestling team, driven by a passion to make a positive impact, have discovered a remarkable way to give back to their community… they’re teaming up with Mary Nelson’s Youth Center for an exciting Amazon Mystery Box Giveaway.”
Through teamwork, compassion, and hands-on service, the Homer Wrestling program once again demonstrated the powerful role student-athletes can play in strengthening their community beyond the mat.
