HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker women's lacrosse team and the Hartsville Boys & Girls Club have partnered together to start an after school homework program for local elementary students. The partnership is part of Coker Athletics' initiative to increase the interaction between Coker student-athletes and local youth in need of mentors.

"Our team really wanted to get involved in the local community," said sophomore Marabeth Durden. "The Boys & Girls Club is very helpful in providing a lot of children with a place to go after school while their parents are at work. With us volunteering our time it gives the staff an extra hand with helping the children with homework and other activities. 

Members of the team attend the Boys and Girls club daily at 2:30 and spend time providing assistance with homework before leading the students in other activities. The program is scheduled to run through the 2014-15 school year, with the possibility of continuing the partnership in the future.

"We really want to be known within the Hartsville community," said head coach Chelsea Kent. "However, we want to be known as ambassadors of goodwill and not just athletes doing required community service. Our team takes pride in being the best possible version of itself and in a short time these children have helped us more than we have probably helped them."

You can see the Cobras in action on Saturday (Feb. 14) when they open the season at home against the Bobcats of Lees-McRae College.