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 Students at Spring-Ford Intermediate School found a way to reach out to youngsters in another part of the world this winter. Their efforts received an extra reward recently as Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7th District) honored the school’s Builders Club for its service project, Operation Soccer Ball.
Students who are part of the Builders Club raised money to buy soccer balls that were shipped to Iraq, in hopes that U.S. soldiers stationed there will be able to use the soccer balls as a way to interact positively with Iraqi families and their children. Congressman Sestak’s office helped arrange the transport of the soccer balls to troops overseas.
Students sold candy-grams, candy canes with messages attached, in December and raised almost $2,000 through the fundraiser. They spent time after school and during recess periods helping to publicize the candy-gram sale, selling the candy canes, attaching personalized messages and delivering the goodies.
Bev Reimund, one of the club’s advisers, said the money was used to buy 100 soccer balls from Schuylkill Valley Sports of Pottstown at a low cost. Schuylkill Valley also donated many soccer balls and the pumps to inflate them when they arrive overseas.
The idea to purchase the soccer balls came to the group when a local family with a soldier serving in Iraq made the request, saying that the soldiers use them to break the ice and foster good will toward Iraqi families.
“We learned that the U.S. soldiers can bond with the Iraqi children through soccer. This helps cultivate a comfort with and respect for the U.S. soldiers, who have become a recognizable addition to the children's daily lives,” Reimund said. “The request was made, and we were happy that the Builders Club was able to answer the call.”
Participating in Congressman Sestak’s presentation on Feb. 5 were Dr. Dennis Booher,
Spring-Ford Intermediate School assistant principal; Jerry Williams, president of Schuylkill Valley Sports; sixth-grader Tara Colgan; Lindsey Waltermyer, Builders Club
adviser; Bev Reimund, Builders Club adviser; Alexis Keil, fifth-grade Builders Club representative; Elizabeth Watson, sixth-grade Builders Club representative; Lindy Thornton, Builders Club president; Cole Callow, fifth-grade Builders Club representative; Nicole Teufel, fifth-grade Builders Club secretary; Cameron Wassil, Builders Club vice president, and Kerri Townsend, fifth-grade Builders Club representative.
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