Soccer League to Collect Equipment for African Kids

The Arundel Soccer Association is partnering with U.S. soldiers in Africa to deliver soccer equipment to children in Djibouti. 

The ASA will collect the equipment between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Arundel Middle School fields. The U.S. Postal Service will pick up and ship the items to Camp Lemmonier, which is manned by the U.S. Africa Joint Task Force. 

"This year we wanted the players to feel the genuine joy of philanthropy," ASA President John Hamrick said in an announcement. "A friend of ASA was deployed by the U.S. Navy on a humanitarian effort in Djibouti, Africa. He wrote back and told us the kids loved playing soccer but didn't have basic things like socks and shoes to play This is a tremendous opportunity for us to show the kids the power of giving."

The collection effort Saturday is also part of the ASA's 29th anniversary celebration. There will be tournament games all day, plus appearances from the Chesapeake Charge and Charm City soccer teams.