Rio Vista in the Community

Rio Vista Mustangs Help at the Roadrunner Foodbank
The Rio Vista Mustangs U12 Boys started camp last week by donating their time to the Roadrunner foodbank. This is the Mustangs third year and we encourage them to keep up the annual tradition. We are proud of our young heroes and encourage them to keep up the great work. Click here for more info and pictures.

Rio Vista ’92 Sparks “Support our Troops” Care Package ProjectLast November Sharon Thompson (Team Mgr.) received information that some of our young troops in

Iraq

were homesick and needing Care Packages for the Christmas Season. She had received a list of 20 soldier’s names (most quite young) from a friend stationed there and asked if any Sparks parent might want to organize a “Sparks” Service Project. I agreed to organize the project, sent out e-mails and purchased 20 medium sized boxes…. every Spark was encouraged to buy $20-30 in Care Package “materials”…..such as snacks, razors, food, magazines, phone card, CDs, toys, “stuff”, etc.

Schunk had a new team photo taken (above) and had 20 prints made. Cassidy and I prepared a colorful form letter addressed to the troops, 20 copies were made and each Spark wrote notes around the edge and signed. We then scheduled a team meeting night at the Schwantes and all the Sparks brought their “stuff” to be mixed…..it filled the floor of one room. Each Spark received their box and filled it with goodies, team formletter and team photo. Each lady then addressed and decorated her box……and took to Post Office to mail. (Quite expensive if you want to get it there by 2010!) Great service project and the troops enjoyed…..as did the Sparks.

RVFC Real is Taking Donations of Soccer Equipment for Afghan Children
The RVFC U11 Real is starting a community service project for children in Afghanistan. They are collecting any new or used soccer equipment which will be handed out to the children treated by US medical personnel stationed in Gardeyz, Afghanistan. Soccer is an extremely popular sport, and the balls and shoes that are handed out not only make the kids happy, but can actually help the Afghan people see that our soldiers are there to help.

We are accepting balls, soccer shoes (in sizes for kids from 4-11), shin guards, jerseys - anything really that is soccer related. Anyone with a donation can call me to arrange for pickup at (505) 899-4831.

Rio Vista F.C. 92 Boys Soccerina Fundraiser
The 92 boys found a great way to raise money for their team and the charity of their choice - The Special Olympics. They arranged an exhibition match featuring themselves and their coaching staff dressed as Ballerina's. The game drew quite a crowd and a number of sponsors. The players & their parents deserve a lot of credit for pulling together such a fun day for everyone and raising a sum well over their original target. The club can be very proud of another wonderful group of young people giving back to their community.

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RIO VISTA FC HEAT HELP OUT APD
The Rio Vista Heat U-13B were recently featured on KRQE News 13. As a team effort, the players gave allowance money and asked their parents and grandparents to participate in Project Life Vest in honor of Officers King and Smith. Project Life Vest is a project sponsored by several businesses to benefit APD's efforts to outfit more police officers with body armor."

SCORPIONS TEAM UP TO ASSIST FAMILIES DISPLACED BY KATRINA
To help the families who were displaced by hurricane Katrina, the Rio Vista Scorpions Red and Blue companion teams (U10B) participated in putting together Personal Hygiene Packs to be given to the survivors housed in Houston and elsewhere. The packs contained: toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, travel-size wet wipes and a bar of soap. The Scorpions assisted in the shopping and assembling of the packs, and were happy to deliver 32 Personal Hygiene Packs to a local church that then took the Scorpions’ contributions on to the families in Houston. It was good for the boys to see that when others are in need, we can team up with others, and also do our part to help out.

As part of their summer soccer camp, the RVFC Mustangs U10 Boys performed a community service at the Ronald McDonald house located by UNM. The boys were given a tour of the facility and spent a couple of hours cleaning windows, doors, floors, etc. The boys also made cookies for the residents. Community service is an important aspect of team-building, and the boys did a super job.

It wasn't all work and no play for the Mustangs. They spent some of their camp afternoons swimming, bowling, and going to the movies.

Great job at camp, and a great job helping your neighbors, RVFC Mustangs!