In July, Aloma United Methodist Church in Winter Park sent a small care package to an impoverished area of Mexico to offer care to the children. A part of the care package was 2011 Orlando City training gear and soccer balls, something the children were incredibly happy to see.

The donated items, which included the 2011 white training top, were distributed to a local team for to wear during their soccer matches.

“The shirts are a sign of hope and symbol that someone believes in them,” said Bill Allshouse, a representative of the orphanage to which the items were donated. “This kind of encouragement had perhaps helped them win a championship in a small, local tournament after they received the gear.”

12 people went on the trip to Mexico, all from the Methodist Church. Andy Searles, a pastor of Aloma United Methodist, commented on the donation and what it meant to the children in Mexico.

“I wanted to thank everyone who helped donate,” he said. “Even though there was a significant language barrier, the soccer items really broke it down (the barrier). That’s the power of soccer. It was big time for them to see the Orlando City crest and have the gear to play.”

The donation was thanks to the Orlando City Soccer Foundation (OCSF), a 501©(3) non-profit foundation that is dedicated to fulfilling the charitable objectives of the Orlando City Soccer Club by providing outreach programs, services and initiatives for individuals and organizations in need- like the soccer team in Mexico.

For more information on the OCSF, please click here.