WINFIELD , Missouri ( CNN ) -- Players on Francis Howell Central High School 's football team thought they would be doing their strength training in a weight room this week . Teens from miles around came to Winfield , Missouri , to help the community strengthen its levee Friday . But when team members learned that the community of Winfield -- 25 miles to the northwest -- needed help battling a swollen Mississippi River , they had no trouble choosing a different sort of workout . About 30 members of the team from the St. Charles , Missouri , area were among the hundreds of people filling and moving sandbags Thursday and Friday to bolster levees preventing the river from overcoming Winfield . `` We were going to be working out anyway , '' said Devon Doll , a 17-year-old who plays cornerback for FHC . `` We just wanted to come out and help . '' Parts of Winfield flooded this week because of failed levees , but authorities , locals and volunteers from elsewhere were working to reinforce levees that still were working . The National Weather Service said the Mississippi River at nearby St. Louis was cresting Friday and was expected to begin slowly receding Saturday . The football players were n't the only teens giving up their summertime activities to help the community . Watch volunteers fill sandbags » . Erin Andres , a 17-year-old from O'Fallon , Missouri , normally takes summer trips to Florida to help build houses with Habitat for Humanity . This year , however , she could n't go , but she was more than happy to find she could be helpful closer to home . Erin and her younger sister went to Winfield with a few people from their church Friday morning . They helped fill sandbags and carry them to those who would transport them to the levee . Her house in O'Fallon , 15 miles south of Winfield , is n't threatened by the flooding , but she decided to help the Winfield effort because she wanted to `` help people that need the help . '' `` Anyone who can help , should -- even if you 're not strong , '' she said . `` If my 8-year-old sister is out here helping , anyone can help . It 's a good experience . '' Erin said that if she was n't helping , she would have been hanging out with friends , something she was glad to put aside temporarily . The work also had a bit of benefit for her , she said . `` It takes care of my workout for the day , '' she said . The football team helped from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT Thursday and expected to help during the same hours Friday . Lincoln County authorities said that by about 2 p.m. Friday , sandbagging was suspended , with the Army National Guard having nearly completed its efforts to fortify the levees . The coach of the football team had given the players a choice between working out as scheduled or helping with the sandbagging . Those who obtained parental permission went to Winfield . `` It 's kind of fun because we 're working with our teammates , and everyone 's happy because we 're working for a good cause , '' Devon said . CNN 's Katherine Wojtecki contributed to this report .
NEW : Winfield sandbagging halted , with National Guard efforts nearly complete . Football team skips weight training , travels 25 miles to help Winfield , Missouri . Volunteers trying to bolster at-risk levees . Comment: