JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley High School swim team seemingly never takes a break.

“Most of our swimmers are also with the Seneca Valley Swim Club,” said Lisa Zucco, who has a daughter on the team. “April is about the only month they have off all year.”

Even when the Raiders received their Christmas holiday break this season, they gave it back.

To help others.

On Dec. 28, 27 SV swimmers spent three hours at the global distribution center in Sewickley for World Vision, an international humanitarian organization that combats poverty.

They took on a variety of assignments while there, including unloading a truck, unpacking, sorting and preparing more than 1,200 clothing items and separating items to be recycled. These items will eventually be sent overseas to those in need.

On Dec. 30, the team spent a day of community service putting together 60 tote bags containing hats, gloves, scarves, snacks and personal items for those in need in Pittsburgh. They wrote notes of encouragement to place in each bag.

“It's just something we've started to do as a program,” Raider swim coach Brian Blackwell said of the charitable work. “It's another way the kids can work together, this time as a means of giving back.

“With all of the projects we do, it probably adds up to 100 hours of community service.”

This month, varsity team members volunteered on-site at the Feed My Sheep organization, which works to provide meals and encouragement to Pittsburgh's homeless, to serve meals and distribute the team's tote bags.

Finally, members of the team will volunteer at the Special Olympics Bowl-a_thon this Sunday at Family Bowlaway. They will be cheering on the participants and help them with scoring and awards.

Seneca Valley has 25 girls and 16 boys on its swim team. More than 30 have taken part in at least one of these charitable events.

“We have two parents head it up and spread everybody around,” Blackwell said. “It's another form of teamwork, team bonding, and the kids enjoy working with each other.”

Beth Simoes and Jill Stevens are the parents who found the charities for the swimmers to assist.

“We call around to different organizations and offer our help,” Simoes said. “Of course, the volunteer time had to fit into the kids' holiday break time and the work had to be there for a great number of kids.

“These organizations worked out really well.”

As it is, Seneca Valley's swimmers are in the pool practicing or competing six days a week. They have before-school morning practice twice a week and are in the weight room two or three times a week.

So why tax their schedules even further?

To give back.

“The kids need to understand the importance of giving back to the community,” Stevens said. “And they love giving back. It also makes them realize how fortunate they are to have what they have in their lives.”

Junior swimmer Jonathan Simoes has no problem with it. In fact, he welcomes the volunteer time.

“It's amazing to have the opportunity to help those in need,” he said in a released statement. “And it's such a good bonding activity for the team to be able to do something like this together.”

Zucco said most of the team consists of “honor students wo know how to deal with time management issues.”

This is just another form of doing so.

“These kids are willing to go above and beyond,” Mrs. Simoes said. “We're proud of these children, in and out of the pool.”