We recognize in times like this we have to adapt. The needs of our youth, their families, and communities have significantly shifted.
We've talked with parents, players, and community leaders and identified two main areas of need: education and food security. These needs are the rationale behind our three current response projects "At Home Skills", "Slices and Strikes” and the “Food Corps”.
Our At-Home Skills project pairs fun creative learning activities like reading, writing, and drawing with soccer skills. Lessons are taught by SITS coaches in one-on-one sessions with their players. This has been successful as we engage with the youth players and keep them active during this time. Over the last six weeks, our instructors have taught 512 sessions with 103 kids. We will continue to work with the kids and keep up the positive energy!
“I know each week when he is on the phone with Coach Justin, he gets a sense of excitement and motivation,” said Vine City Parent, Ms. Aziz. “I can count on him to be focused and attentive when he is working on his writing and soccer skills.”
With our Slices and Strikes project, we are providing free hot meals and soccer balls to youth in East Point that most need our support. Over the past five weeks, we have provided over 470 meals and soccer balls to families and we recently launched the project in the Clarkston Community!
“Globally, soccer is the most popular sport, and I’m sure pizza is its most popular post-game meal. So, it makes sense to combine two things that everybody loves,” said East Point Parent, Joshua McCoy. “My son is a member of the East Point Club and during these times, it’s been comforting for him to keep up his weekly post-soccer diet and practicing soccer skills. As well as seeing his coach every week has been a reminder that things may be different, but we’ll get through it together.”
Lastly, we have launched our Food Corps project to support organizations delivering groceries to families in need. On the Westside we are partnering with the Westside Future Fund and through 5 weeks of work we have packed over 950 bags! In Clarkston we recently started working with Envision Atlanta. Over the last 2 weeks we’ve packed 150 bags for delivery.
“We are wanting to take care of the residences in our Soccer in the Streets community like Westside and Clarkston”, said SITS Director of Programs, Tony Carter. “We have been bagging hundreds of goods for families every Thursday with our coaches and know we are making a positive impact during this time.”
We know during these uncertain times that we need to stick together and stronger than the soccer community in Atlanta. We are thankful to have partners like Atlanta United, Arthur Blank Foundation, and the Chestnut Family Foundation that have given us tremendous support during this time with our COVID-19 relief projects.
Check out our data dashboard below from the relief projects!
