DC Scores...cleats and smiles

Cleats For Bare Feet not only does work all around the world, we do our best to make a difference in the community in which we live.

Last month we shared equipment with Soccer Without Borders who work with refugees who live in the Baltimore area.

This month we teamed up with DC Scores, an organization that runs after school soccer programs in low socioeconomic areas in our capitol. 42 schools and 1,450 students in total participate in the program.

We were introduced to DC Scores last year and were able to share equipment with them. This past week, we were able to supply two teams with much needed cleats and new shorts.

We met with Mr. Ross at MC Turrell, first, and shared cleats with 5 of their players.

From there it was a quick jaunt up to Adams Morgan to catch up with “Team Awesome” from the Oyster Adams Bilingual School. The Mighty Oyster Adams Student Council (MOASC) has been orchestrating an equipment drive since February. Our first stop by, in March, yielded 131 pieces. While this stop only brought an additional 59 pieces, the MOASC are one step closer to their goal of 250 pieces before the end of the school year.

The kids in the MOASC are exceptionally driven and passionate about helping other kids reach their potential. When we told them that equipment collected in March has already gone to help kids in Senegal, China, Uganda, and in the Baltimore area, they were absolutely thrilled.

Immediately following our collection event with the MOASC, we received a call from Sarah Jennings, the DC Scores coach at Garfield Elementary Prep. Jennings, originally of Massachusetts, is a member of the City Year program and has been coaching the DC Scores team at Garfield for the last few months.

Upon arrival Jennings made an overhead announcement calling all members of the team to the front office. Every member of the team came charging through the halls, getting some sideways glances from one of the teachers. The players sat down, took off their sneakers and we got started.

We are happy to announce that all 15 members of the team got fitted for cleats. While smiling for the camera is something that everyone hates doing, these kids were ecstatic. They had a game at the end of the school and these cleats would allow them play at their top level.

We’re glad to have helped and look forward to hearing how their game went.