Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Partner With EFAA To Help Boulder Community
May 16, 2016 | Soccer
BOULDER - Colorado's soccer team makes plenty of headlines on the field with its strong play. But the Buffaloes are making headlines off it too with their efforts in the Boulder community.
Last month they volunteered with the Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) at the family housing site in Lafayette where they helped assemble a playground, cleaned up the yard, hung pictures in the houses, and organized food pantries in the homes and laundry supplies in the main unit.
“We have partnered with EFAA to help local families in need," head coach Danny Sanchez said. "Our day spent in Lafayette was at an apartment complex that serves as transition housing for families. We built a climbing wall for the kids, cleaned out storage rooms, did yard maintenance work around the complex and cleaned and organized apartments for families to move into. We look forward to continuing to work with this great organization and help in any way we can.”
The EFAA provides assistance to help cover rent, utility bills, minor medical needs and transportation for underprivileged families. In 2015, it provided $599,849 in financial assistance and distributed over 637,432 pounds of food worth over $1 million. The organization assists with basic family needs, housing, case management to help families be self-sufficient, and has programs for children to minimize the effects of homelessness.
"I thought it was a really great experience," senior midfielder and team captain Mikaela Kraus said. "It was amazing to help out as much as we could and provide assistance to these families in our communities. With as much as we did, there is still plenty to do and we can't wait to get back out there and help out some more."
The Buffs plan to continue their partnership with EFAA in the future. In the fall, CU plans to also work with Special Olympics to kick off the Colorado Cup in August. The teams at the Colorado Cup, which is a competition between the six Division I schools in Colorado, will partner to host a soccer clinic for Special Olympics.
