By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

The Shelby County Coon Hunters and Black Creek Coon Hunters associations presented a check Nov. 22 in the amount of $6,009.79 to Family Connection in Alabaster, which serves more than 10,000 children, teens and families through its group home for at-risk youth.

Susan Johnston, the executive director at Family Connection, said the money will go toward clothing and food for children in the home, as well as the non-profit agency’s electricity bill.

“A lot of kids come to us with nothing,” Johnston said. “This will go toward the necessities kids need.”

The funds were raised during the two coon hunting associations’ benefit hunt, which took place Nov. 12.

The donation to Family Connection came through Shelby County Coon Hunters hunt director Phillip Padgett, who works at the shelter for at-risk children.

Association members from both the Shelby County and Black Creek coon hunting associations paid into a competition to see which member could spot the most raccoons, Padgett said. No animals were harmed in the hunt, he said.

Also presenting the check were Elmore Dorough, the secretary for the Shelby County Coon Hunters, Jamie Perrin, president of the Shelby County Coon Hunters and Arnold Moore, president of the Black Creek Coon Hunters.