We realize that you don’t "do soccer" 24/7, but United FA also understands that due to the time we spend together each week, we are a community living within our Forsyth County Community. As we develop skills for life, we want to be a resource for you and your family.  If we find opportunities that reinforce Skills for Life, we’ll pass the info along to you here.  There are a lot of wonderful opportunities out there and we can’t highlight them all - Sorry! But partner with us as we help people that are in the community around us as well as in Atlanta and even around the globe.

Questions?

UFA's "Skills for Life" focus encourages UFA families to make a difference in Cumming, the nation and the world.

Hurricane Sandy victims today, "Homeless people still paying mortgages...."

Earlier this month, a number of U17 boys teams partnered with St. Brendan's Catholic Church and collected needed relief supplies for families in the West Long Branch, NJ area.  A truck was filled with bottled water, blankets, canned foods, toiletries and other needed supplies. Below is a heartwarming portion of a letter shared by the local organizer with our U17 teams.  Thanks to all UFA families who helped these folks-- and to all of our families as we support our local community throughout the year, practicing skills for life alongside skills for soccer.

The scene up there is a physically devastating one. Houses blown away, personal family items crumbled into construction debris, boats in trees, missing dog signs, a hollow quietness. But nothing quite prepares you for the personal landscape, the somberness of the people. They are strong and resilient but still stoically respectful of the great loss that haunts their streets. As we pulled up to Christ the King Parish there was a crew waiting in the parking lot to greet us. They tightly hugged us and never stopped thanking us while we were there. It was as though we were long lost family. We ate lunch together and conversed loudly about everything from life stories to hurricane aftermath information. Then, the time came to unload the truck. As we opened the U-Haul door a happy relieved hush filled the crew. They explained that there was a Visit with Santa event planned for the very next day (we were not aware of this!) but they did not have a single gift for any of the kids attending. YOU were literally, Santa Claus for all those children :) There were tears, there were thanks, and then a positive problem occurred...there was too much stuff to fit into their rectory! WOW! As we re-configured donations and laughed our way through carrying heavy boxes, we eventually found a way to store everything. We gave each other massive departing hugs and swapped contact information. We locked up the empty U-Haul and decided to attend evening Mass at their parish before we got back on the road. We sat in the back of the church because we were a few minutes late due to donations unloading. It was from this vantage point that we were able to really take in the energy of the church. A heavy sadness resided in the people there and you could feel the toll Hurricane Sandy took on them, the discouragement on each of their faces. Before the final blessing, right at the end of Mass, the deacon stood up and said, "We only have once announcement tonight, as you all know our Food Pantry has been empty for some time now. And I just got word that our prayers have been answered. A group from Georgia drove up a U-Haul truck filled with donations and have replenished our pantry!" He pointed at us and at this moment everyone in the church stood up, turned around, and clapped. There were smiles on their faces and tears of happiness. We also were crying and could not stop smiling as people came over to hug and thank us. They tried to slip us gas money and wouldn't take no for an answer. The gratefulness of these people was staggering. We made sure to put their gas money offering right back in their donation box! I wish I could bottle the pure joy and love that filled that church, because no one is more deserving of feeling the weight of that than all of YOU who helped make it possible. It felt like so many Christmas miracles overlapped and we had to share it with you right away since it was your "yes" to helping fill the truck that played such a crucial part!

Merry Christmas and God Bless!
Jessica Ann Gutierrez