The Canton Athletic Booster Club is under the guidance of Justin Hesskew for a second go-around, but it’s truly a team effort. Hesskew wants to be there for the kids, and that includes every athlete between the seventh and twelfth grade. He considers his position on the same level as the board members and parents that also meet the needs of the district’s athletes, and recognizes that their effort leads to the booster club’s success.

“It would be impossible to run a booster club without parental help,” Hesskew said. “Their help gets everything done.”

Hesskew is actively recruiting parents to get involved. That’s why Canton always has the proper man power to meet the athletes’ needs. The booster club works with parents to prepare a meal for the high school’s athletes, and sandwiches are always prepared for those at the junior high. The parents pay for the food and prepare the meals. Booster club members set up the weekly event, and clean up after the meal. It’s always hosted the night before a game.

The booster club sells stadium signs to local businesses for football and baseball games, and t-shirts, hats and stadium chairs to the general public. That’s how it’s able to provide hotel rooms for a postseason run, and a video camera for the volleyball team. Like at other schools, football season is the busiest. That’s when the club makes the majority of its money. Hesskew said he doesn’t have huge plans for the rest of the year, but there’s one reason why he’s still around.

“I just want to make sure that the booster club in Canton is here for the kids, and that’s been my number one priority. We’re not here to do anything other than that.”

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