Sophomore Guillermo Garcia, a dedicated member of our Boys Varsity Soccer team, recently started a project that will impact many. Through June 10th, Guillermo will be collecting gently used soccer equipment for children in Colombia. The idea sprouted from his visits each summer.

For six years, Guillermo has had the chance to connect with his roots by traveling to Colombia during the summer. It was during these visits that he was able to interact with children attending a small school where his aunt works, in the city of Circassia, where most people make their income from farming, which can be unreliable at best. Guillermo said, “The school is very poor, and many of the kids don’t have nearly the same amount of opportunities that I have…I’d like to give back.”

Through these month-long visits to the school, Guillermo was able to tell the children about life in Arlington and help them with their English. In these conversations he realized that the best way to connect with the children was through their shared love of soccer. At the school, Garcia played soccer with the children and saw that their equipment was very limited: small dirt field, goals made of bamboo, and patched-up soccer balls. It was this which inspired Guillermo to try and provide more for these kids who had given him such “life-changing experiences”.

He is asking the Wakefield community to donate any type of gently used soccer equipment: balls, uniforms, bags, shin guards, cleats, etc. He said, “The kids in Colombia would really appreciate it, so feel free to donate.”

The donation box is located in the main office and will be there until June 10th.

Ask your friends, family, and neighbors to bring in any equipment they can! 

Boys Soccer Update: Our Boys won the first game in Regional Playoffs on Tuesday vs. Rock Ridge, 3-2. Cristian got the first goal and Obama got the other two in that game. On Wednesday, our Warriors fell to Freedom, 2-1. Guillermo got that goal last night. What a wonderful season, National District Champions!