Soccer Uniform Recycling Drive: Press Release
(Indian Hill, Ohio) At the start of the season of giving, there was an outpouring—of soccer uniforms. As a result, the students attending elementary school in an impoverished village in Bangladesh will soon be sporting Indian Hill red and Georgetown gold.
In late October, the Indian Hill Recreation Commission (IHRC), working in conjunction with the non-profit Bangladesh Relief Fund (www.bangladeshrelief.org), asked soccer players and their families to donate surplus soccer uniforms for the benefit of Bangladeshi school children. Word spread, and by mid-November, residents of the Indian Hill School District had reached deep into their closets and come up with more than 400 soccer jerseys plus an assortment of uniforms from other sports.
Most of these uniforms—at least three large suitcasefuls—will travel to Bangladesh in January with Muhit Rahman, founder of the Bangladesh Relief Fund, and his daughter Nadia, 8, an IHRC soccer player. “We plan to distribute them to the villagers during our two-week stay,” said Mr. Rahman. “I’m sure we’ll bring back lots of photos of smiling children decked out in their new uniforms.”
IHRC coordinator Jack Alley oversaw the uniform recycling drive, e-mailing coaches and encouraging parents to join in. And join in they did. Collection bins at the village offices were soon overflowing and more uniforms piled up at the area schools. “And it wasn’t just Indian Hill,” said Mr. Alley. “The folks at Georgetown called and wanted to donate 100 uniforms that they no longer needed. Several adult leagues also got into the act. I don’t think we’ve seen the last uniform quite yet, so our doors remain open: The Rec Commission is delighted to be involved in giving these uniforms a second play.”
Mr. Alley added, “I understand that soccer is enormously popular in poor countries like Bangladesh because it is so accessible. All you need is a ball and a stretch of dirt and an entire village can join in.”
According to Mr. Rahman, the recycled uniforms, all in great shape after only a season of play, may do double duty in Bangladesh. “I wouldn’t be surprised if these jerseys are adopted as the school uniform,” he said. “By western standards, these children have next to nothing. I know the uniforms will be a source of great pride for them.”