TMS collecting donations for Uganda soccer balls

In the main office at Thermopolis Middle School there are four Ball brand jars filling with coins and bills, an appropriate label as the money inside will go toward the purchase of soccer balls for Uganda.

Teacher Jacob Strenger said he had an opportunity to travel to the country to do some humanitarian work with an organization, and they like to leave soccer balls behind in the villages after they’ve worked there.

Ugandan children will actually make their own balls using plastic bags and old innter tubes, Strenger said, so they can play. “They don’t have toys, they don’t have tablets, so the soccer ball really is a toy they’ll use for years. After it goes flat they’ll cut it open and stuff it with grass so it holds its form and they can continue to play with it.”

The organization Strenger travelled with is stationed out of Missouri and since he can’t be there to help divide materials and supplies to take to Uganda, he volunteered to collect soccer balls. To that end, he is having a change drive at the school through February. Strenger will personally deflate them, check them at the airport and take them to Uganda.

There are four jars for change collection — one for each grade — but students can also buy and bring in soccer balls for a bonus of $10 per ball to their jars. The winning grade will get an “end of day” celebration with popcorn and root beer floats.

The change will be used to buys as many soccer balls as possible, and Strenger will kick in the difference if there is not enough change left for another ball. The toys will be on display at the school until he takes them to Uganda this summer.