Barnstormers and City Islanders Collecting Soccer Balls for Sudan

July 14, 2009 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release

LANCASTER, Pa. - The Lancaster Barnstormers and Harrisburg City Islanders are joining with Mennonite Central Committee in asking those attending the upcoming Harrisburg City Islanders match with Crystal Palace Football Club to bring new soccer balls to share with students in southern Sudan. Balls will be collected outside Clipper Magazine Stadium before the game Thursday at 7 p.m. Balls should not be inflated.

Sudan's 22-year civil war decimated communities in the southern part of the country, which is one of the most impoverished regions in the world. About 2 million people were killed and 4 million were forced to flee their homes before a peace agreement ended the conflict in 2005. Since then, about 1.7 million people have returned to their home areas after spending years in refugee camps or other temporary living arrangements. More people are continuing to arrive despite the fact that few resources exist, such as schools or food supplies, to accommodate the rapidly growing population.

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), is working at providing relief supplies to the region. The organization is planning a shipment to southern Sudan in early August. In addition to the typical relief supplies and food, MCC's Sudanese partner organization, The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), has asked MCC to include at least 50 soccer balls.

Mennonite Central Committee is the relief, development and peace building organization of Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and Amish congregations in the United States and Canada. For more information about their work in Sudan, please go to, http://mcc.org/sudancominghome/index.html

The City Islanders and Crystal Palace will play the first soccer game in the five-year history of Clipper Magazine Stadium Thursday night. Tickets are still available at www.lancasterbarnstormers.com, by calling 717-509-HITS or by visiting the stadium box office during regular business hours.

Atlantic League Stories from July 14, 2009

• Bears Defeat Patriots - Newark Bears
• Bullpen Shines in Win - Lancaster Stormers
• Stormers Top Flock - Long Island Ducks
• York Falls 3-2 - York Revolution
• Camden Riversharks Defeated by Bridgeport Bluefish, 8-6 - Camden Riversharks
• Blue Crabs Sign MLB Veteran Michael Tucker - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
• Barnstormers and City Islanders Collecting Soccer Balls for Sudan - Lancaster Stormers

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Lancaster Stormers Stories

• Stormers Fall In Eighth
• Hill Dominates Stormers
• Youngsters Pace Lancaster
• Homers Down Stormers
• Lancaster Once a Big League Town