Christmas is a time for giving. That is just what the players of a local Under-13 girls soccer team thought when it was time for their annual Christmas party.
Team Thunder, coached by Ash Mohtadi and Sandy Grant, hosted the team party last weekend. Instead of buying each other new gifts, it was decided they would recycle a gift and donate the money saved to a good cause. The thought was “since we’re used to a 'Green' Christmas anyway, let’s keep it green by helping others in need.”
Team Thunder thought it would be nice to supply children with soccer balls to support soccer across the globe. The girls have donated $160 to Kids to Kids a project that one of their members, Madison Kelly, helped launch.
Kids to Kids was set up two years ago by a group of young people in the Comox Valley. It’s an initiative of Fertile Ground, a local organization that works with farming families in northeast India.
Last year, students in the Comox Valley raised money to purchase desks, school supplies and water filters for small village schools located in an area where many families have been displaced by flooding.
Swings and teeter totters designed and built at several of the schools by Fertile Ground volunteers have been a big hit with the children. Funds for the playground equipment were donated by Strathcona Sunrise Rotary and other Rotary clubs in District 5020.
Peggy Carswell, a member of Fertile Ground, received the money and was very pleased by the generous donation made by the team.
“It’s heart-warming to see the shift taking place in the hearts and minds of young people like Team Thunders' members. The girls are really aware of the needs of children here and around the world, and discovering that there’s something they can do to make a difference.”
“Most families in the Ambikapur village area are barely able to come up the money for their children’s school fees every year. The gift of the soccer balls is going to bring smiles to the faces of many kids, teachers and parents!”
Fertile Ground volunteers will be heading over to Assam early in the new year. Anyone interested in learning more about the Kids to Kids Project or about how they can help can visit www.fertile-ground.org/kids-to-kids.html.
– Team Thunder