The freshman boys basketball team at Salem High School is off to a good start, having won their first two games of the season.

But the players are accomplishing something more important than the number of points they put on the scoreboard. They are donating food and clothing to help needy people in Lawrence, Mass., one of the country’s poorest cities.

Coach Brian Stanton’s 16 athletes are supporting Lazarus House Ministries as a community service during the basketball season.

So far, Stanton has made six trips to the organization with items brought to team practices by his players.

“We’re doing something good,” said forward Drew O’Shaughnessy, 15, who has donated canned goods from his family’s kitchen and some of his own clothing.

The Lazarus House, based in Lawrence, provides a broad range of services, including a homeless shelter, food pantry and free medical services to people in dire need of life’s basic necessities.

Most of Stanton’s players had never heard of the nonprofit charity based in a community not far from their homes when he pitched the idea of helping the organization to his team.

“I threw it out to the boys and they ran with it,” he said.

The players have brought in boxes of macaroni and cheese, stuffing, soups, cake mixes, sauces, canned vegetables and other nonperishable food items. Donated clothing has included flannel shirts, gloves, winter hats, sweaters, sweatshirts and more.

Most of the food is grouped with other foods distributed by Lazarus House to more than 300 families every week. Clothing is provided at the organization’s thrift stores.

“I think it’s awesome to see young adults getting exposed to people’s needs and supporting the community,” said Ken Campbell, the organization’s food coordinator. “They’ve responded incredibly well. It’s pretty nice.”

Helping is voluntary, not mandatory, yet every player has contributed food, clothing or both. Stanton is proud his players have responded enthusiastically to help the less fortunate.

He was especially touched when one of his players donated a sweatshirt the first night he spoke to the team about the importance of giving back to the community. He wants people to know that young people do care about others.

“Everyone has been bringing in what they can to help out,” said guard Jonathan Klecan, 14, who brought several bags of donations to a recent practice. “It’s not how much you give that’s important, it’s that you give something.”

For Stanton, instilling in his players the notion that it’s important to help other people is part of his job. He hopes that life lesson stays with his athletes for the rest of their lives. It’s something he learned from his father, Pete, a basketball coach, who encouraged his players to help others.

“I learned a long time ago to give back,” said Stanton who grew up in Salem, Mass. “I’m just trying to pass on good things I was taught.”

The team’s community service has drawn positive feedback from the parents of the players. Stanton would like to see parents bring their families to the agency’s soup kitchen to help out.

“I think that would impact them in a positive way,” said Stanton, adding that he wants his players to realize that they don’t have to donate money to help others. Giving of your time is good, too.

“I want the kids to know there’s something else (important) beyond basketball,” Stanton said. “There’s a big need out there.”

Stanton, who has been coaching 30 years, is in his fifth year of leading the freshman boys team. His theme for this season is “attitude is everything.”

Stanton has watched his players feel good about themselves by helping others. When kids feel good about themselves,Stanton said, they tend to do well academically and socially and play well on the court.