Sam Fields has lived in Lancaster County his whole life, but he only came to the Hempfield School District when he was in sixth grade. When he was in eighth grade, he was also on the wrestling team. Sam recalls discussing with his mother, Emily Fields, the idea of doing something year-round and outside of school with the wrestling team. This was how Wrestlers Helping Others (WHO) was born.

The goals of WHO are to promote team bonding and teamwork as well as make a positive impact on the local community through service. As the founder of WHO, Sam organizes, leads, and facilitates service projects for Hempfield wrestlers to volunteer with community service and nonprofit organizations in Lancaster County. Members of WHO typically complete community service projects every month. The first project Sam coordinated was for Night to Shine, where WHO members helped set up a prom-like event for people with special needs age 14 and older. Over the five years since Sam founded WHO, he and other wrestlers have helped at Community Place, UNTO, Impact Builders, ECHOS, United Way, Teen Central, Gifts That Give Hope, Beth Shalom, and more. Most recently, WHO served food to individuals experiencing homelessness in Lancaster County at Water Street Mission.

WHO has made a big impact in Sam's life. "I've reached out to and connected with people I wouldn't have otherwise," he said. "I've gone to places I wouldn't have gone to otherwise. I found out about all of these organizations within Lancaster I didn't even know existed." Sam noted that although he may not continue wrestling after graduating from Hempfield High School, he will continue helping others. "I love volunteering and I love helping others, so anything I can do in that area, I'll try my best to continue," he stated.

Whenever Sam plans a new project for WHO, he posts it on the wrestling Facebook page. To stay up to date on WHO, search for "Hempfield Wrestling" on Facebook.

"In the end, even though some of the projects might not be the most fun while doing them, they definitely help others, and at least in my opinion, it feels good to do something like that," said Sam.

For more information about wrestling in the Hempfield School District, visit http://www.hempfieldwrestling.com.