MLS: A week of volunteer work

This past Earth Day week, the MLS joined in making a difference to the sustainability and wellness of our communities and planet

In any league there comes an importance with showing positive actions that your organization is taking part in inside the community. Not only does it show that these super star athletes are, in fact, good people, but it shows the community that no one is “too good” to take on the nitty-gritty. This past week in the MLS, all 20 clubs took part in what was the first-ever MLS WORKS Greener Goals “Week of Service” event.

The event, during the week of Earth Day, took place from April 18 to April 23 with a goal to show that they wanted to play their own role in doing what they could for their community. The event was aimed at promoting and educating the importance of environmental sustainability and the MLS even offered to plant a tree for every time the official MLS app was downloaded on Friday- which was Earth Day.

The reason events like this are so important to the community is simple: it shows a give-back attitude and brings awareness to those around the country who otherwise might not know much about Earth Day, sustainability, or even have an idea that it really is as simple as picking up that stray piece of trash you see blowing in the wind as you walk down the street or through the parking lot on your way to grocery shop, work out, or anything else.

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During the week over 1,000 league and club staff members took part in community service where they contributed over 84,000 hours of volunteer work between everyone who participated in the week’s events hosted by the league’s charitable area known as MLS WORKS.

With each club’s participation, the league was able to help clean up neighborhoods, plant trees, participate in park beautification, and the Houston Dynamo even contributed by helping to sort food in food shelters for the people in the area who suffered displacement after the city fell victim to some major flooding earlier in the week.

Plenty of the social media platforms for the clubs posted photos for fans to see the good work being done throughout the week while also encouraging their fans, followers, and community to join in on the community service taking place in their area. Real Salt Lake posted about their time at Granger Elementary School where the held a Nutrition Assembly and helped to make the playground “green” for the students to enjoy:

Even within the MLS’ headquarters, office staff made it a point to get out and exercise their green thumbs! The office staff took a trip to Governor’s Island to provide volunteer work at the Teaching Garden:

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It’s important that the communities throughout the United States that surround these clubs see the work that the organizations are willing to put in for the betterment and wellness of the area; to see that these soccer players and soccer staff are more than just athletes on a field or public relations behind the scenes. It promotes the welfare of our planet and motivates others’ contributions. So, how did you spend your Earth Day week?