Men's Soccer Supports Our Troops By Adopting-A-Soldier

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — In the spirit of the holiday season, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's soccer team helped spread some holiday joy to those who serve to protect our every day freedoms by participating in the Adopt-A-Soldier program.

Adopt-A-Soldier is a grass roots effort to allow citizens to connect directly with our soldiers while they are in combat.

"It was nice to send the soldiers care packages during the holiday season to know they are appreciated and bring them a piece of home," commented junior defender Thomas Ambrosino.

The Bears collected items to send to our soldiers overseas. In a team effort working with a middle school in Queens, I.S.93, the team donated a lot of basic necessities—food, soap, shampoo, snacks, clothes, blankets. Juniors Ambrosino, Cesar Oviedo, and Michael Ortiz, and freshmen Daniel Goncalves and Juan Sandoval helped package the goods on Tuesday, where it will be shipped it to our soldiers overseas.

"Just before the holiday season, it is a good deed to acknowledge those that keep us safe at home," remarked head coach Ovid Cusu. "The Men's soccer team did just that with great effort in collecting, donating, and shipping things to our soldiers."

"It was a great experience to see the team willing to help for a great cause and it was especially pleasing to see how much stuff was donated," added team co-captain and forward Oviedo. "Plus it made it a little closer to home as one of the players on the team father served in the Army," referring to freshman goalkeeper Julian Rodriguez.

The Adopt-a-Soldier program started in April of 2007 when the 3rd Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart in Savannah, Georgia was deployed to Iraq. Word of the program spread among the troops from other divisions who were deployed alongside 3rd Infantry and the program began sending packages, letters, and cards to units from all branches of the military.

The Bears efforts will help support units deployed to difficult areas in the Middle East in Afghanistan and Iraq.. 

"It feels great to help out in the Adopt-a-Soldier campaign," added team co-captain and midfielder Ortiz. "Somebody once told me you don't do kind deeds for somebody expecting kindness in return, you do them because you deem the recipient worthy" 

"I'm thankful to have been able to support those who support and protect our country," concluded Goncalves.