While they are opponents on the football field, local high schools are all on the same team rooting for Jaden Leiby, the North Schuylkill player who was seriously injured during a game Friday night.

“Yes there are rivalries out there. But when there’s something that happens within the Schuylkill League, and District 11, everyone comes together as one, which is exactly what you’re seeing,” said Panther Valley Athletic Director Kristin Black.

Leiby, a senior at North Schuylkill High School, suffered a neck injury in a game last week.

Local high schools including Panther Valley, Palmerton and Marian Catholic are holding fundraisers to help Leiby and his family.

All three schools are selling T-shirts and wristbands produced by North Schuylkill School District.

The T-shirts say “Prayers for 6” on the front, with Leiby’s name and jersey number on the back. The wristbands say #JADENSTRONG and #PRAYERSFOR6.

T-shirts sell for $10, and wristbands for $2.

Panther Valley Junior-Senior High School will hold a sale from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday. They will also be accepting monetary donations for Leiby’s family on behalf of the North Schuylkill Half-Time Club.

Palmerton will be selling shirts and wristbands Thursday night 6-8 p.m. in the high school lobby.

Marian Catholic High School is taking orders for shirts and wristbands through the end of the school day Thursday. Order forms are available at the high school office, and can also be found on the North Schuylkill Facebook page. The school will also hold a dress down day for Jaden on Nov. 11.

Marian students know North Schuylkill not only from competing on the field, but some of them hail from the North Schuylkill area, according to Pete Sanfilippo, Marian’s dean of student affairs.

“It hit home for us so we wanted to support Jaden and his family as well,” he said.

Black said she has received many calls from members of the Panther Valley community who want to support the Leiby family and the North Schuylkill team.

“My phone’s been ringing off the hook, people asking how they can get a T-shirt, and what they can do to help,” she said.

On Wednesday, Panther Valley Junior-Senior High School students signed an oversized get well card addressed to Leiby.

Angela Krapf, a PTO member, said the response from students to the card was impressive.

“The majority of them were like ‘That’s for Jaden? I want to sign that,” she said. “They also took it upon themselves to write some messages.”

Krapf said that ever since news came out about his injury she’s been thinking of Leiby’s family and what they are going through.

She’s noticed that there are many others who feel the same way, doing what they can to support the Leiby family.

“Every time I turn around I see somebody else doing something. It’s phenomenal. It’s what I love about our area,” she said.

Local schools like Weatherly and Palmerton tweeted out messages of support using the hashtags #JADENSTRONG and #PRAYERSFOR6.

Over the weekend, the Lehighton booster club football team, which includes students in grades 5 and 6, wore No. 6 decals on their helmets to show support for Leiby. Lehighton will also hold a dress-down day on Friday to raise money for the family.

Donations to the Leiby family can also be addressed to North Schuylkill High School, Attn: #JadenStrong, 15 Academy Lane, Ashland, PA 17921. Checks can be made out to NS Halftime Club.