Kicking off their preseason, RSL in the Community gathered at Midvale Elementary to pack meals for students and their families as part of the Utah Food Bank’s Mobile School Pantry. The program provides free meals, once a month, to the school’s students and their families at the end of the day in a safe and trusted environment.
RSL Defender Marcelo Silva took part in Midvale Elementary’s Mobile School Pantry in January and wanted to come back when the program returned to the school Tuesday. This time he invited Freddy Juarez and members of the staff including Pablo Mastroeni, Ignacio Hernandez and Rob Rogers to join him and pack 92 total meals.
“I always want to come out here because it’s something good that we are doing,” Silva explained. “Last time, to see the kids take something home to eat with their families was great. Honestly, this is something very small that we’re doing but anything that we can do to help makes me very happy.”
As someone who is always eager to help in the community and provide support to anyone wherever needed, Juarez echoed Silva’s sentiment while packing meals.
“It’s important that every time we have a chance to lend a hand that we do that,” Juarez said. “The past year has been crazy with not being able to get out to places. But now that we have the opportunity to get out and help with something, me and the coaching staff jumped at the opportunity.”
Through RSL in the Community, the club has helped facilitate numerous projects across the state and beyond, even during an unprecedented year in 2020 and now again in 2021. When the opportunity to help people arises, the club feels as though it has the responsibility to help in any way that it can and jumps at the opportunity.
“It’s always great to give back,” Mastroeni reflected. “Sometimes as coaches and players you’re on the receiving end of goodness and fan support. But I think it’s really important to appreciate and support the people that come out and support you. This was a great way to do that and give back.”
