Sisters Collect Football Uniforms for Ethiopian Children

Thursday 24th of July 2008 07:44:18 AM

Two fifteen year old sisters are collecting football uniforms for the children in Ethiopia. The two sisters, Melissa and Erica Iarusso, have collected over one hundred uniforms, as well as fifty-five pairs of shorts and twenty-two pairs of socks in just four days. The girls are hoping to collect a minimum of 300 uniforms by the end of July so that the members of the Windsor St. Clair Rotary Club can take the football uniforms to Ethiopia in August.

The two young girls aren’t going to Ethiopia themselves. However, they understand and know how very popular the sport of football is there. According to Erica, "I think the children will be really happy. It will be a moving experience for them."

The two sisters have played as midfielders for their football league for the past eight years. They will be donating at least sixteen of their own football uniforms to the cause.

The girls are asking for donations of football clothing in any size for both boys and girls. They are not in need of shin guards and shoes as they have been told that many of the kids in Africa play barefoot. However, the girls have collected some long football socks anyway.

According to Melissa, they have collected many different colours of football uniforms and will accept the clothing from any football league. Melissa said, “We have all the colours of the rainbow."

The two girls are counting on receiving a lot of uniforms on July 27, as that is the day of their local football championships and family day. They are hoping that the kids will change out of their uniforms and gear after the playoffs that day. They hope that the kids will donate their football uniforms or remember to drop off their old uniforms that day.

Melissa has said that this is just the beginning. "We hope that this is going to be an annual event."