By: Matt Weinagrden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter
The LaSalle Stompers Soccer Club recently held its annual Day of Champions at the Vollmer Centre in LaSalle earlier in August.
Over 1200 participants, as well as family and friends took in the sunny day to celebrate the great game of soccer.
However, the game is so much larger than itself, as young players were also taught important lessons in giving back to the community.
Tasha Hummell is the head convenor for the LaSalle Stompers Soccer Club.
“We’re here today to celebrate the Day of Champions for our house league,” she said. “We have a ton of activities going on throughout the day…all the while, trying to instill the importance of helping those in need and giving back to our community. It’s fun, and it’s also a day of learning lessons in life for the kids participating.”
The late LaSalle councillor Sue Dejarlais, a great friend to the soccer club, was honoured posthumously at a ceremony and plaque unveiling held at the Vollmer soccer fields, remembered for her untiring support of the organization. The annual Sue Desjarlais ‘Community Volunteer Bursary’ has been created in her name.
Desjarlais’s son Graeme attended the ceremony and took part in the unveiling.
“It’s nice to see young people getting involved in giving back to the community, said Dejarlais. “My mother had a great impact on the community through her volunteer work, it’s really nice to see her legacy honoured in this way.”
The first recipient of the bursary is Alexis Hogan,15, who attends Villanova Catholic High School and played on the U15 girls Active Body Physio squad.
Hogan was chosen as this year’s recipient, dedicating many hours to volunteering in the community, as well as maintaining exceptional grades and participating in physical activity.
Alexis volunteers at various places within the community, including the LaSalle Strawberry Festival, local nursing home, her school and church, as well as a music school.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to honour Sue and her generous heart, as well as hoping that this encourages our young to volunteer and give back to their community. We hope that this bursary encourages more to volunteer and to dedicate more time helping others,” said Hummell. “Sue will always be remembered by our community, never really gone…always in our hearts.”
LaSalle mayor Crystal Meloche concurred adding, “Sue meant a lot to everyone and this is something really special to honour her memory.”
As part of the day’s celebration, the Stompers organization stepped up and donated thousands of food items to the St. Andrews LaSalle Food Bank.
Congratulations and thank you, from left, Giuliana Costante, Betsey Sarkis, Stella Quaggiotto, and Emma Castagna, who came together, produced their own baked goods and held their own bake sale using the money raised to go shopping for the annual Food Drive for St. Andrew’s Food Bank.
“The St Andrew’s LaSalle Food bank wants to send a thank-you to the LaSalle Stompers Soccer Club for their amazing efforts in supporting our local food bank,” said Nancy Skinner, from the LaSalle Food Bank. “What a successful effort they put forward in helping fill our depleting cupboards and offering cash donations. We’re very thankful.”
The food bank has served the community for 25 years and supported by donations from the people of LaSalle. Currently, they serve over 100 families in the LaSalle area.
Also, on site – the Transition to Betterness group, who has partnered with the Stompers over the last seven years.
The Club of LaSalle for youth – sponsored by The Rotary Club of LaSalle Centennial brings together young people to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of ‘Service Above Self.’
The youth group collected donated soccer uniforms to be shipped to Africa for distribution to countries including Ghana, Malawi, Ethiopia and Tanzania through grassroots programs run directly through the Rotary.
“It was a great day, lots of laughs and smiles, which is what it’s all about,” concluded Hummell.
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