Lady Viking volleyball team visible off-court, pitching in for various civic activities as an alternative to typical fundraisers

The 2022 Pelican Rapids High School Volleyball Team
Front row, from left, Rumley Biewer, Emily Smith, Kenzie Skogen, Jaden Hackel, Hailey Selly, Kelsey Ceroll, Abby Johnson
Back row, from left, Lindsay Nevala, Kaleigh Peterson, Peyton Backes, Anna Steer, Izzy Steer, Willow Thiel, Morgan Burkman, Addison Twidwel, Kelsey Isaman, Morgan Korf

The Pelican Rapids High School volleyball’s unique fundraising program has been a remarkable success—while providing valuable volunteer services in the area.

From helping out at Oktoberfest to assisting younger students and senior citizens, the volleyball team has been visible in various capacities. 

The Pelican Rapids community is asked to support the volleyball team by sponsoring a volleyball athlete in their community service learning fundraiser program, explained Coach Heidi Isaman.  

This is the second year the Pelican Rapids Volleyball team has done the “sponsor an athlete” fundraiser program. The program is a refreshing departure from the more common selling of merchandise. The program is also a valuable experience in civic involvement.

The girls all chose ten people to send pledge forms to, asking for any donation of choice to sponsor that athlete. Each athlete in grades 7-12 is expected to volunteer a minimum of 10 hours for community service work. 

Sophomore volleyball team member Anna Roisum, pictured with Pelican Rapids Community Food Shelf director Janet Lindberg—after the team delivered more than 200 food shelf items.
The “truck sale” is a big project for the Friends of the Public Library, and Pelican volleyball players assisted with the book sale all summer long.
Raffle ticket sales at the Pelican Oktoberfest was one of the volleyball team’s civic events.
Apple picking was one of the unusual community engagement projects for the Pelican high school volleyball team. The team picked apples at the home of Virlyn and Dee Strander this fall.
Players pictured picking apples are Emily Haiby (standing next to Virlyn), Arianna Hovland, Kelsey Isaman, and Kallie Hanson.
Pelican volleyball team members, following a civic project where they assisted with a senior citizen picnic at Pelican’s riverside park last summer.

Some projects that the volleyball team did this season included:

• OAKS (Organizing Acts of Kindness for Seniors) picnic

• Pelican library used book sale trailer throughout the summer,

• work in the elementary school office helping teachers and office personnel prep for pre-conferences, 

• organizing Viking Butik at the elementary school 

• tour guides for 7th grade orientation 

• homecoming tailgate party 

• yard work for homeowners

• apple picking 

• Octoberfest auction 

• Crop walk for hunger, and many more. 

“We also collected over 200 items for our local food shelf at all of our home games for the season,” said Coach Heidi Isaman.