FRANKLIN—The community came together to cheer Franklin High School to victory in the state football championships. Now, another similar effort is needed to reward the Broncos for that big win.

An account has been set up at Bronco Federal Credit Union so that members of the community may donate money to help buy letterman jackets and championship rings for the team.

“Anyone can donate from $1 up,” said Anne Williams, who helped present the first large donation of $1,000 from Southampton Memorial Hospital.

Williams, who works as the hospital’s marketing director, said it might take up to $20,000 to outfit the team with rings and jackets.

“That’s a huge amount of money,” she said. “The community is just going to have to step up and help these kids. They need to be rewarded for their hard work.”

Williams is a Franklin High graduate and both her children attended the school. She watched as both the 2004 and 2008 teams won state titles.

“These kids played with such heart,” she said. “That says a lot for this little bitty town.”

In 2004, the city and local businesses gave the money to buy jackets and rings.

Williams said she has faith that the money will come this year, too.

“This community is unbelievable when it comes together and joins for something like this,” she said.

Besides the SMH donation, the account only has a few hundred dollars in it, far from the amount needed to buy the jackets and rings, said Pam Vaughn, the credit union’s marketing manager

“It’s off to a slow start,” she said.

Vaughn said employees are excited about helping.

“We have so many people who have ties to the school itself. We need to support the team in any way we can.”