A Penn-Trafford High School junior who usually makes big plays on the football and baseball fields recently switched it up to help veterans in need.

Jacob Otto, 17, collected about 200 garbage bag loads of gently used clothing he donated to two organizations last week — Vietnam Veterans of America and Paralyzed Veterans of America. Friends and family pitched in, as did others in the community whom Otto doesn’t know, to help the two service and advocacy groups.

“It came out so much bigger than we expected,” he said.

With an eye toward serving in the military after high school, Otto said the community service project was a good fit. He hopes to get into the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., or the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.

His family military connections are strong — a cousin is attending the Naval Academy, an uncle served in the Vietnam War, a grandfather was in the Army and his father, Penn Township police Chief John Otto, was in the Marines.

“I know the feeling, for whatever reason, your body, your brain, it all comes together and you realize that you want to serve,” John Otto said. “He’s always been a disciplined child.”

Both organizations direct clothing donations to veterans in need. Jacob Otto said he split his donation between the two groups.

“It felt amazing because the veterans did so much for us,” he said. “It was awesome to be able to give back to them.”

His dad was happy to know the lessons on initiative, leadership and results have sunk in.

“I just think it all came together for Jake,” John Otto said. “He wanted to employ this thing called initiative that he has been hearing so much from his father.”

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