Kids Get to Try Their Hand at Fishing

Maurice Sporting Goods sponsored a day of fishing for kids along the Cubihatcha Reservoir.  The kids got to learn fishing from volunteers from the store and local police and fire departments.  It was a great day for Maurice Sporting Goods to give back to the community as part of their "Maurice Cares Day."

Eleven-year-old Jordan Thomas was so excited to see a fish on the end of her line.

“Oh look, I got one!” she screamed.

Thomas, fishing for the first time, was competing with a few of the other young fishermen.

McKenzie Bates, 7, boasted about his good fortune. “I caught my first fish! Every time, I thought I had a fish it got away from me, but not this time,” he beamed.

Thomas and Bates were among 135 children treated by Maurice Sporting Goods, to a day of fishing along the banks of the Cubihatcha reservoir. They took part in the fifth annual “Maurice Cares Day,” held Tuesday.

“The company chose to close down all of its stores to give back to the community,” said William Cramer, Distribution Center Manager of the Maurice Sporting Goods Distribution Center in McDonough. “We are the world’s largest distributor of outdoor equipment. We have stores throughout the United States and in Canada.”

The youngsters were from several local summer camps, and other organizations including the Henry County Special Olympic Team, Stockbridge Tae Kwon Do Academy, Bright Star Learning Center and Living Word Christian Academy in Morrow.

Cramer said the company selected the fishing event for “Maurice Cares Day,” because 70 percent of the sporting goods sold by the company is fishing gear.

Seventy-five Maurice Sporting Goods associates, along with its management team, served as fishing guides for the children. Representatives of the Henry County Water Authority, police, fire, and rescue units, also served as volunteers.

“Fishing is so interesting, when you throw out your line, you think to yourself, ‘I did this all by myself, and my mama is not here to hold my hand, I am actually fishing,’ ” said Aleia Brown, 12, of 

 Living Word Christian Academy, in Morrow. Brown never caught a fish, but she enjoyed the experience just the same. She was shown how to cast her rod by Henry County Fire Department Capt. Ronald Reagan.

“It’s great to see them out here laughing, and trying to fish,” said Reagan.

Members of the National Wild Turkey Federation brought their BB Gun range. The “Southern Woods & Waters” television show filmed portions of the event. Mrs. Georgia Spirit, Priscilla McCammon, was among the estimated 300 people at the event. They all feasted on grilled hot dogs prepared by the Primo’s Grill.

For more information go to the Henry Daily Herald.