Police, Middle School Staff to Play in Charity Basketball Game

On Friday night at 7 p.m., members of the Coventry Police Department will take on staff from Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School in a basketball game to support the Wounded Warrior Project.

WWP is a nonprofit organization founded in 2002 whose stated mission is to "honor and empower wounded warriors" of the United States Armed Forces. 

According to its website, the Wounded Warrior Project "works to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs."

What began as a program to provide comfort items to wounded service members now offers a complete rehabilitative effort to warriors as they recover and transition back to civilian life.

WWP offers interactive programs to assist service members mentally through peer support and professional services; physically with rehabilitating sports, health and nutrition activities; economic empowerment through higher education and employment assistance opportunities; and engagement via peer mentoring and alumni programs.

For several years, ASFMS Behavioral Specialist Kim Sturdahl has organized a number of awareness and support initiatives for Coventry military families, including a "Military Awareness Night" and district-wide assistance network. Local schools have also participated in fundraisers to benefit the cause. 

Friday night's basketball game will take place in the ASFMS gymnasium and admission will cost $5 per adult ($4 with military ID) and $3 per student ($2 with military ID). All proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. 

To learn more about WWP, visit the organization's official website at www.woundedwarriorproject.org