MLS D.C. United

United Drives to Collect Clothing, Coats in October

Published on October 6, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
D.C. United News Release


WASHINGTON, DC (October 6, 2004) - As the weather turns cold and D.C. United wraps up another successful season on the field, the club's United Drives program continues to offer a helping hand to area non-profit organizations off the pitch. Before United's home matches on Saturday, October 9th and Sunday October 17th, fans can bring new or gently used coats and clothing to Gate A at RFK Stadium to benefit the Dinner Program for Homeless Women.

"Throughout the 2004 season, D.C. United's fans, players and staff have been very helpful in yet another successful year of our United Drives program," said Catherine Marquette, United Director of Community & Fan Relations and Executive Director of United for D.C. "From soccer equipment, toys and children's books to cell phones, canned food and clothing items, the generosity of all of the people who contributed to the program has enabled us to help hundreds of people in need in the Washington, D.C. community. On behalf of our beneficiary organizations, D.C. United would like to thank our fans for all of their support."

In preparation for the colder temperatures of fall and winter in the Nation's Capital, D.C. United will be collecting new and gently used coats and other items to benefit the Dinner Program for Homeless Women. Specifically, the Program has asked for the following donated items: coats, blankets, socks, hats, gloves, new undergarments and toiletries. The Dinner Program provides support services and meals to homeless and low-income men, women and their children in downtown Washington, D.C. The services provided by the Dinner Program range from meals and job skills training to referrals to outside agencies for counseling and other needs.

"Since our inception 25 years ago, we are proud to say that we have never had to turn away anyone in need," said Kari Kirwin, Executive Director of the Dinner Program for Homeless Women. "We are only able to accomplish that through the assistance of concerned people and groups within the community, both through donations and volunteer time. We truly appreciate D.C. United, and more importantly their fans, for lending a helping hand."

Throughout the 2004 Major League Soccer season, D.C. United has collected items at each home match to benefit Washington, D.C. area non-profit organizations. Beginning two hours prior to kickoff, United collects items outside of Gate A at RFK Stadium. Fans who donate an item receive a commemorative key chain and a "Buy One, Get One" ticket voucher good for any D.C. United regular season home game.

During the month of September, the United Drives program collected school supplies on behalf of United for D.C., the club's charitable arm. In addition to matchday contributions, United Bank - a long-time sponsor of the Black-and-Red - collected items in its branches throughout the Washington, D.C. area. Between United's fans, players and staff and the patrons of United Bank, thousands of school necessities were collected in the month of September. The collected items have been arranged into gift baskets for teachers at United for D.C.'s three United Reads schools - Payne Elementary (Ward 6), Smothers Elementary (Ward 7) and Howard Road Academy (Ward 8) - and will be distributed in the coming weeks.

"We would like to thank United Bank for stepping up their role as a great friend to D.C. United," said Marquette. "With their help we were able to exceed last year's collections and continue to give back to the Washington, D.C. community."

In its fourth season of operation, the United Drives program has enjoyed continued success. In the first five months of the season, the initiative collected nearly as many items - 2,050 - for the program's beneficiaries as were collected in all of 2003 - 2,125. United Drives is on pace to double its collections by the end of the 2004 campaign.

In April, over 450 pieces of soccer equipment were donated to DC SCORES and the Latin American Youth Center, followed in May by a donation of more than 100 canned and non-perishable food items to Martha's Table and the Capital Area Food Bank. More than 1350 books were collected for United for D.C.'s United Reads program in June and nearly 100 new toys were collected for the Children's National Medical Center in July. And although United's two home matches in August were separated by a mere three days, more than 50 cell phones and accessories were collected for the Wireless Foundation's CALL to PROTECT® program.

For more information on the United Drives for D.C. program or any of D.C. United's community relations initiatives, please contact Catherine Marquette at [email protected] or 202-587-5443.

The Dinner Program for Homeless Women

The Dinner Program for Homeless Women is a non-profit organization providing meals and support services to homeless and low-income men, women and their children in downtown Washington, DC. The Dinner Program provides a hot, nutritious dinner and social services to nearly 100 homeless women and their children five nights a week, and through a partnership with the Zacchaeus Kitchen, serves breakfast to an average of 275 men and women per day six days a week.

The Dinner Program for Homeless Women is a place of hospitality. Any woman (and her children) may receive an appetizing and nutritious dinner in a stable and safe environment, and be provided the support and opportunity needed to reach her full potential.

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