Cheer Boxes Project
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What is a Cheer Box you say? One member of Woodworkers of Whittier knew because he had built some for La Serna High School a few years back. Yes, but what is a cheer box?
“Cheer Boxes” are, well, wooden boxes that are used by high school cheerleaders during events like football. The cheerleaders, girls and boys both, stand on the boxes while leading cheers, incorporate the boxes into their routines, and, before and after the game, load their paraphernalia like pom moms, sweaters, and the like.
Dick Toney and Paul Wilson inspect cheer boxes at wow’s shop at hathaway ranch museum before delivery
Woodworkers of Whittier (WOW) were approached by Alyssa Vasquez, Cheer Team Coach, to see if we were interested in building “cheer boxes” for the Whittier High School Cheer Team. Several WOW members met to determine the specifications and then met with the coach. A sample cheer box was built to test the concept and determine the cost.
Box in hand, another meeting with Ms. Vasquez to show the sample and get an approval to begin. The price was right: materials only and labor would be donated by WOW members.
varsity and junior varsity cheer team members pickup their custom-made cheer boxes
Some 29 boxes were built over the course of 2 weeks. WOW set up a production line at Louis Lopez’s home shop and the raw materials were cut to size for all 29 boxes. After cutouts for handles were added the cut materials were brought to Hathaway Ranch Museum where WOW produces toys for children during the year. The boxes were assembled and sanded.
Delivery was made one afternoon after school where cheer team members came to retrieve their custom-made cheer boxes. Team members will paint and decorate the boxes before the first football game in a couple of weeks. When team members complete their boxes we will take pictures of the boxes decorated and in use. Stay tuned.
WOW members participating in the project include Skip Porter, Louis Lopez, Dick Toney, Carlos Jackson, Ray Sosa, Gene Getz, Julie McCamey, Arie Korporaal, Paul Wilson, and student Wyatt Sprowls.