In the world of high school athletics, funding for uniforms, equipment and practice gear can be costly, and fundraising efforts are usually year-round.

But for Turlock High School’s boys basketball program the next year there will be a collective sigh of relief- well, sort of.

Thanks to a generous $5,000 donation from the Stuart Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering schools and developing youth and youth programs, THS basketball will be purchasing new uniforms, practice gear and equipment.

Varsity Head Coach Doug Cornfoot, who is also a special education teacher at THS, says the donation came a welcome surprise.

“It covers our budget for the entire year. It helps give us a surplus,” he said.

But the fundraising must go on. Remember that “sort of” part?

“We will continue to fundraise by selling water bottles at events, car washes, snack bar and AAU tournaments,” Cornfoot added.

Cornfoot says the team has not purchased new uniforms in two seasons and the money is a huge help. He explained that all three levels – freshman, junior varsity and varsity – wear the same style of uniform, so the new uniforms will be integrated throughout the program.

The THS football program wasn’t left out in the cold either, receiving $2,050 from the Local Warriors Club. Varsity Head Coach James Peterson says the team purchased a 35-foot chute, similar to a blocking sled only it prevents lineman from elevating on the sled.

“The lineman can’t go up at all and it’s a great tool to teach them leverage and to prevent injuries as well,” he said.

Turlock High School’s newest agricultural academic venture, Principles of Turfgrass Management, also earned a helpful donation in the amount of $2,000 from the Kiwanis Club of Greater Turlock. THS interim Principal Marie Peterson reports the funds will be used to purchase additional equipment such as lawn mowers, edgers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers and weed eaters to teach the course.

The new course will focus on maintenance and management of turf grasses that includes sports fields, parks, cemeteries, commercial and residential lawns. The course is open to all students; however there will be a focus on educating special education students in order to help them gain viable employment skills for their post-high school lives.