Help Inner-City Kids in Chicago Stay Fit With New Soccer Equipment
The rate of childhood obesity has tripled over the last three decades and to make matters worse, more and more schools are cutting back on much-needed recess time. At Darwin Elementary, an inner-city school in Chicago, physical education teacher Julie Gabrick has set out to change this.
Her students, she said, "have tremendous enthusiasm and are not turned off by physical activity." However, a lack of equipment and supplies often limit the activities student can do. For this reason, Ms. Gabrick is requesting two soccer goals for her students. "The aerobic benefits of soccer are undeniable," she explained.
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The goals will be used during gym class, after school, and during the school's newly allotted 25-minute recess period. "The soccer goals will bring our new recess period to a level of excitement that we have not seen before," Ms. Gabrick said.
You can help kids at Darwin Elementary stay fit by donating to Ms. Gabrick's DonorsChoose classroom project. "Our students live in a big city in Illinois that offers little outdoor play space," Ms. Gabrick said. "We are working so hard to educate the whole child, both academically and physically."
"Please consider making a difference to the health and well being of our students," she said. "They are deserving."
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Jenny is the Education Editor at TakePart. She has been writing for TakePart since 2009 and previously worked in film and television development. She has taught English in Vietnam and tutors homeless children in Los Angeles. Email Jenny | @jennyinglee | TakePart.com
