On Friday, April 23, the NJ/NY Gotham FC Player Community Outreach Committee spent their day off giving back.

Gotham FC players participated in the Meals-on-Wheels program provided by SAGE Eldercare of Summit, New Jersey, that saw them delivering food to local seniors for the day.

SAGE Eldercare is a private, nonprofit organization, started in 1954, that dedicates its efforts to the general well-being of older adults and their families. Their Meals-on-Wheels program officially began in 1966 and now after over fifty years of operating, they serve New Jersey’s Union, Morris, Somerset, and Essex counties.

Defender Gina Lewandowski, who helped distribute goods this past week and whose father was a recipient of the program last year, felt especially thankful to the institution and its nearby impact, “I know how grateful he was for the service, especially during the pandemic and we wanted to take this small opportunity to show our support and care.”

Gotham FC were the first group of volunteers to return back to the program since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis and SAGE Eldercare manager, Cindy Potters, later expressed full gratitude to the team for their time and commitment. “It felt like a turning point, a light at the end of the tunnel. Their energy and enthusiasm meant so much to our clients, whom for over sixty percent of them, the only people they see all week are the volunteers. So, this was truly special.”

Potters even shared that the team had made someone’s day even more special with, “One of our clients actually called crying, as it was his 67th wedding anniversary and that their visit brought joy to him on a difficult day.”

Defender Sabrina Flores has returned every week since the team’s initial visit to spend time and have coffee with seniors to whom she’s felt connected. “Ever since I was little, I’ve always felt a strong connection to the elderly, and a passion to bring support, love, and happiness to them. Many of these seniors are lonely and missing that human connection.  It makes my heart so full when I see the excitement and happiness in their eyes.”

The work with SAGE Eldercare is just one of many continued efforts by Gotham FC players to give back to the local communities that support them on and off the field. This marks the second volunteer outing of the group, after packing over 2,100 meals through the COVID-19 Emergency Food Distribution Effort, helping feed food-insecure families in Newark.