November 11, 2003
Thomasville - An empty soccer field. No feet, no fans, no fun, but add a ball, and the field takes on a new image.
"I've always felt like soccer was a sport that really went through barriers that cut across barriers," says Vinny Gill, head soccer coach at Thomas University. His team is collecting soccer balls for Iraqi children.
Gill says, "You hear reports that Iraqis don't believe that the US cares about them, and I thought this was a cool thing to cut across this barrier."
A barrier that combat photographer Jack Morse saw, and wanted to dissolve. Jack Morse, Sr. says, "Our son, Jack, Jr. observed that many of the children there would approach the troops and ask for soccer balls, footballs, but the troops had to tell them, 'we have none.'"
But now troops are starting to receive and pass out soccer balls to children, thanks to people donating balls and money to the troops. Morse, Sr. says, "It originated from him to do all that he can, with the other troops and the people at home to support the children."
More than 100 soccer balls have already been collected. If you are interested in donating, you can contact Jack or Phyllis Morse at 229-226-6140, or you can mail a donation to the Noon Lions Club at P.O. Box 917, Thomasville, GA 31799.
posted at 4:46 PM by karen.collier@walb.com
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