Story Photos
 Photo by Greg Ebersole Karry Williquette of the Longview-Kelso Parks and Recreation Department hopes that about 500 soccer balls from the local area come her way for the "Get A Kick Out of Sharing" project. |
Giving a gift to boot
Sunday, July 4, 2004 12:30 AM PDT
By Rick S. Alvord
Printable version
E-mail this article'Get A Kick Out of Sharing'
Those wishing to help can drop off a new or slightly used soccer ball at the following Longview-Kelso locations:
• Big 5 Sports (Three Rivers Mall)
• Longview YMCA
• Fred Meyer Shopping Center
• Bob's Sporting Goods
• Athlete's Corner in Longview
(Note: Anyone donating a used soccer ball at Athlete's Corner can purchase a new one there for 10 percent off the regular price.)
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On any given weekend, hundreds of children storm the manicured soccer fields at Longview's Seventh Avenue Park.
They wear colorful uniforms and kick state-of-the-art soccer balls. Some games are just for fun, while others are more competitive. Either way, the kids' passion for the game is unmistakable.
A similar passion burns a world away in Africa's remote and rural villages. Children there use soccer balls made of rags and socks that are banded together with string. Sometimes it's easier to boot a coconut around the dirt fields.
If the Longview-Kelso Parks and Recreation Department has its way, those lumpy homemade spheres will soon be replaced by real balls.
The local office is teaming with World Vision, a Christian-based international humanitarian organization, and the Washington Recreation and Park Association to put soccer balls at the feet of needy African children.
It's called "Get A Kick Out of Sharing." And anyone can help.
"Our goal for Longview-Kelso is about 500 soccer balls," said Karry Williquette of the Longview-Kelso Parks and Rec, who is the District 4 representative for the state, encompassing Cowlitz, Clark, Wahkiakum, Lewis, Skamania and Pacific counties.
"It's a new adventure for us. I'm not sure anything has been done quite like this on an international level," she added. "We're always worried about kids locally and trying to provide programs for them. But this is taking it to a whole other level."
Those wishing to help can drop off a new or slightly used soccer ball at one of five Longview-Kelso locations throughout July: Big 5 Sports in the Three Rivers Mall, the YMCA, Fred Meyer, Bob's Sporting Goods and Athlete's Corner.
Families or individuals who donate are encouraged to write a personal message on the ball.
"Kids know kids best, whether they're from Longview-Kelso or Africa," Williquette said. "I'm sure the kids will know what to write on the ball."
Williquette said the district-wide goal is to raise 1,000 balls. They will be transported via Oak Harbor Freight Lines to Seattle, then shipped to World Vision's international distribution center in Pennsylvania. Boxes of soccer balls will be sent to Africa in ocean-going containers.
World Vision is hoping that about 250,000 balls, adorned with messages from families across the nation, are jammed in those containers.
The Lion's Club has offered to deflate the soccer balls for shipment. Small hand pumps also are needed so the balls can be inflated once they reach Africa.
"The soccer balls are the main thing we need, but without pumps they won't be able to play with them," said Williquette, a native of Minnesota.
Williquette said she watched a video at a state conference introducing the soccer ball program. It made an immediate impact on her.
"We saw these children, all of them barefoot, kicking around these rag balls in the dust," she said. "These are third-world kids. They don't have anything like we do here. No one here knows what it's like there. But this is a way for people to get connected and make a difference.
"Soccer is such a simple sport, as far as equipment goes," she added. "All they need is a ball and they can play all day. They can literally play soccer with anything over there, but playing with a real soccer ball would mean the world to them."
Rick S. Alvord is sports editor of The Daily News. He can be reached at ralvord@tdn.com or 577-2527.
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