By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Members of a Pelham group looking to bring several improvements to Pelham High School’s athletic facilities and grounds are asking for donations and volunteers to help them reach their goals.

The Panther Pride Project, which is being organized by PHS football parent Leah Hays, is looking to upgrade and beautify the school’s facilities in time for the fall football season.

“We have a lot to accomplish in a short time frame, and with very little resources,” Hays said.

Hays said she decided to organize the event to make the school’s “pride in our team (and) our sons visible to all.”

Hays said the group has a lengthy list of items it needs to complete the project. She said the program needs office supplies, a copy machine and a new desktop computer and printer, restroom equipment and supplies, landscaping supplies such as shrubs or trees and “many gallons” of round-up weed and grass killer.

The list also includes gasoline for operating landscaping equipment, paint or paint gift cards, painting supplies, street-striping yellow paint, two flagpoles “and someone who can install them” and cleaning supplies such as bleach or Pine Sol.

Hays said the group also needs construction materials such as plywood, nails, insulation and ceiling tiles and new stadium speakers.

The group is looking for local businesses to support fence banner ads and purchase ads in the PHS football program. The project is in need of “any sign company that can donate or give (the group) a reduced rate,” Hays said.

Over the next several months, project volunteers will be working to renovate several parts of the stadium, including the field house, pressbox and restrooms, and will be looking to install flagpoles on each end of the home bleachers and hang “Home of the Panthers” signs above the stadium entrances.

To learn more about the project, or to volunteer or donate, visit Facebook.com/pantherprideproject or email pantherprideproject2012@gmail.com.