Tough economic times have had a negative effect on every segment of our society, and the Cape Coral High School junior varsity football team got a real life lesson on just how difficult things have become.

Recently, the squad set out to raise funds for team T-shirts, which they hope to wear to show their camaraderie and team spirit when volunteering their time to participate in community events. Their first event was to be the third annual Walk to Prevent Child Abuse on Oct. 11, so they were working against a deadline and were shocked when they were turned down by every local business they approached.

Loss of income was at the root of every denial.

“This is a real team,” said team mom Katherine Hutchinson of Cape Coral. “They wanted to do something together for the community to show their spirit. The Walk to Prevent Child Abuse was something they believed in and, since they can’t wear their uniform jerseys to events like this, they all wanted to wear T-shirts with their team logo.”

Hutchinson says she visited dozens of local businesses and spoke to numerous private individuals in an effort to raise the money for the team.

“Almost everyone was sympathetic and most of them seemed like they wanted to give,” Hutchinson said, “but money is just tight now and with so many causes to support during these difficult times, we just couldn’t find the funding.”

That was until Cape resident Ted Bailer, owner of Ted’s Auto Trim in Naples who has a son on the team, stepped forward and donated the entire amount needed to purchase the shirts.

“I know these guys wanted to do something together,” said Bailer. “This walk seemed like something that would show what kind of a team this is. It’s a good cause and I am proud to see them getting together in support of it.”

The Children’s Network of Southwest Florida is the lead agency for community-based care in this five-county region, providing services and programs to children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, abandonment, or the lack of appropriate living situations, and placed into foster care.

For more information about how to join the team on the Walk, call 239-226-1524.