Shannon Perez
Staff Writer
Although Kleats 4 Kids Club was established just over a year ago, they have already impacted the lives of less fortunate children across the world providing them with soccer clothing and gear.
Kleats 4 Kids Club was co-founded by sophomores Hanna Watkins, Brooke Gleason and Danielle Major, who all share passion for soccer and helping the community. The club accepts donations of soccer jerseys, cleats, and balls and also holds fundraisers in order to purchase additional soccer equipment. Kleats 4 Kids has been fundraising and collecting donations for the 2014 South Africa Spring Break school trip, led by Costa counselor Britney Olson, where several of it’s club members will be attending and donating the soccer gear to a local school in Shangaan.
“It is really an amazing opportunity some members of Kleats 4 Kids have to be going on this trip, not only to help a small community but have fun and relax,” Watkins said. “Our complete focus will be turned towards this huge project.”
On the fourth day of the South Africa trip students will be visiting a local school and orphanage where they will donate basic necessities including school supplies, baby food, lotion and toothbrushes. Additionally, Kleats 4 Kids is striving to bring 40 soccer balls, 75 jerseys and 100 pairs of socks for the local children. While at the facilities, students will have the opportunity to play with the children and learn about their culture. Additionally, Costa students will be touring the Kruger National Park, Nelson Mandela’s former home, and Cape Town.
“The students that I chose to take on this trip were all very passionate about helping others and giving back to begin with,” trip chaperon Brittney Olson said. “I have still been impressed with their ability to pull from all of their resources to get supplies we need to donate.”
In order to raise money for additional equipment, Kleats 4 Kids Club has been holding bake sales throughout the year which have been along the Manhattan Beach Strand. Through selling homemade desserts, the club has raised over $800.
“Putting something together as simple as a bake sale gets everyone involved,” Major said. “We all have fun baking tons of things to contribute and our efforts are well rewarded.”
As of December 2013, local soccer equipment store, SoccerLoco, and national organization AmericaSCORES, has partnered with Kleats 4 Kids Club to promote the club’s cause as well as increase their donations. SoccerLoco hopes to set up donation boxes in all SoccerLoco locations, giving their customers a chance to help the Kleats 4 Kids cause.
“We have been really fortunate to have such amazing opportunities to work with other organizations who have similar goals in mind,” Gleason said. “We are lucky to have community support and active members of our club who really are interested in giving back to those who are less fortunate than ourselves.”
Kleats 4 Kids final push to collect as much equipment as possible for the South Africa trip will be a community wide event on March 23. The club plans on posting flyers throughout all Manhattan Beach Unified School District school, in Downtown Manhattan Beach and on social media websites to promote their cause. They will also set up several booths in Downtown Manhattan Beach to collect additional equipment and general necessities, as well as donation boxes in various local stores.
“I am so proud of our students for all of their hard work towards this trip,” Olson said. “We are going to learn about new cultures and I know this will be a life changing trip for all of us.”
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