Soccer Jersey Drive
by Rick Cross
The First Annual Elk Grove Jersey Drive was a huge success! Through your support of the heart of our son, Colby, and his vision to collect jerseys for the children of Africa, we collected nearly 300 jerseys and had plenty for everyone we visited. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to ALL who participated in the jersey drive! It is hard to put into words how our community, Elk Grove, CA. was able to touch and change so many lives. I am so proud to be a part of a soccer community who got behind the dream of an 11 year-old, and played a vital part in seeing it through.
Busiga, Uganda (Redeemer House Orphanage):
Approximately 20-30 jerseys were used at the Redeemer House in Uganda for the orphans who live there. The jerseys serve as a way to hold games and add structure to the game they love so much. They were very well received with much joy and thankfulness! Colby, our oldest son and the visionary behind the drive, plays for the U-12 Elk Grove Select Wolves. He enjoyed handing out the jerseys and enjoyed the scrimmage even more! His team won 2-3.
Kampala, Uganda (Street Kids):
We visited the slums of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, with approximately 150 jerseys. These kids are not in an orphanage yet and many live parentless on the streets of Kampala. The kids literally formed a mob (which, with some effort, was organized) and were able to receive a jersey. They are a group of kids who have stolen my heart. Once they heard that it was Colby’s idea to hold a jersey drive, they proceeded to re-gift the candy back to Colby that we had given them earlier. Some would take off beaded bracelets and necklaces they were wearing and were offering them to Colby to give thanks. Here in Kampala we see kids with nothing, but what matters most is the LOVE. They have so little but were able to give what they had. We left the slums that day forever changed.
Namirembe, Uganda:
Namirembe, Uganda is a neighboring city to Kampala and the hometown of our driver, Emmanuel. We gave some jerseys to Emmanuel so he could hand them out as a way for him to give back to his community. It was great to see kids several days later wearing them when we would drive by while heading to our next destination. It was inspiring to watch these kids cherish second hand jerseys as some gift they had been waiting a lifetime to receive.
Addis Abba, Ethiopia:
We were able to give a complete P.E. set, which included cones, soccer ball, coach shirts, and enough jerseys to outfit 2 teams to a ministry that works with kids in the streets of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia.
Holeta, Africa:
Our team was able to put on two scrimmages and put to great use another full P.E. set which included cones, soccer ball, coach shirts, and enough jerseys to outfit 2 teams. This was a special part of our trip as Colby was able to play with his newly adopted brother Nebeyu in his first organized soccer game on African soil.
