Men's Soccer student-athletes volunteer with children to give back to community

The James Madison men's soccer team has been active during the spring semester in the Harrisonburg community by volunteering with children for at least an hour each week at the Boys and Girls Club, Shenandoah Valley United and Smithland Elementary School.

While volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club at Spotswood Elementary School, student-athletes spend time hanging out and helping children ages 7-9 with homework or extra activities after school. Sophomore Thomas Shores said, "It's awesome to spend time with these kids, build relationships with them and hopefully bring them a different kind of energy than they might experience at school or at home."

The children, who enjoy playing various sports in the gymnasium or out on the playground, make an impact on the players who go to volunteer. Nick Ducceschi said, "I am always impressed by many of these children, not only for how intelligent some of them are, but for their ability to speak multiple languages at such a young age."

Joe Vyner and Toby Appleton spend their time volunteering at the Shenandoah Valley United soccer program, sharing their knowledge of the sport and assist with sessions. They work with the younger players to help them improve on a one-on-one basis or by providing entire teams with guidance. Appleton volunteers because "We realize how much support we get from the local community, so to be able to give something back means a lot."

Other students help out with the gym classes at Smithland Elementary School and have shown off their soccer skills to the children who admire them. Redshirt sophomore Billy Metzler commented on his experience saying, "We are just a helping hand around the gym for activities, but for the kids it is so much more than that. Every time we come to their gym class they are all so excited to see and interact with real JMU student-athletes."

The continuous volunteer efforts from the men's soccer team have made a lasting impact on the children in the Harrisonburg community and the student-athletes themselves. Metzler noted, "This experience, although small to us as student-athletes, has an impact on the kids of Smithland Elementary that I am proud to be a part of."

These acts of service are inspiring and encouraging to other students who want to take time out of their day to make a difference in their community. Shores notes that volunteering "provides a wonderful opportunity to get to know and give back to the community."

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