Asics, FOP Give Athletic Apparel To OKC Inner-City Youth

Three months after the Moore tornado, donations are still being distributed in the metro. On Wednesday, that generosity went beyond tornado victims with the help of the Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police.

An event at the FOP headquarters Wednesday had needy children leaving with new clothes and shoes.

The FOP received thousands of brand new items from Asics America, but with so many donations flooding into Moore … there was no place for the items to go. Asics allowed the FOP to give the items to the children of the Unity Soccer Club, according to FOP president John George.

Fifth grader Isaac Silva was one of roughly 150 children who benefited from the donations.

"I got some different shirts for practice and some other kind of shoes," Silva said.

Parents loved it.

"A lot of these kids need it," parent Angelica Carrion said. "A lot of parents don't have enough money to get [these clothes]."

Nearly 1,000 shoes and 3,000 clothing items are all going straight to inner city, low income families.

"In the end, [Asics] said just give it to whoever needs it," George said. "It wasn't about the tornado victims as much anymore … which I know they still need stuff, but it was more about getting it to people [who] need it and can use it."

Young Xathlaly Martinez, who took part in the event, just started kicking a soccer ball not too long ago.

"I have been playing, and I really like it," said Martinez.

Now, with the new swag, there is nothing holding Xathlaly back.

"You've got to do what you can so [the kids] have something to do after school so they don't get into trouble," said Carrion.

George says the Oklahoma City Police Athletic League is responsible for putting the FOP in contact with the Unity Soccer Club.