Soccer jerseys once worn by Chilliwack FC players are finding their way to young players all over the world.
Each year CFC equipment manager Mike Hawley has jerseys, shorts and balls that are no longer usable in Chilliwack.
He and others have taken these items to a long list of places like Belize, Mexico, Jamaica, Honduras, Cuba, Saint Maarten, Haiti and the Ukraine.
The latest batch has found its way to the east African nation of Uganda.
“I have a lady I used to work with that has a group that does missionary work in the Ukraine and Africa,” Hawley explained. “I can call them anytime and they will pick up anything I have. They took three boxes of jerseys to Uganda and it cost them $60 per box to ship. Generally they fill their suitcases but there were a lot of jerseys.”
Many of these items used to go to the dump or local thrift store, but Hawley has found truth in the old saying, ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’
“When my wife and I travel and we give a ball or an old jersey to some little kid on the side of the road it is so gratifying to see the smile on their faces,” he said.
Find local soccer info online at chilliwackfc.com.
