FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- The importance of sharing a love of futbol while helping others is what the Fairview Park Soccer Association taught its players last week when the organization held a uniform donation project benefiting GOALS (Global Outreach and Love of Soccer) Haiti.

"The response was really pretty cool," said Fairview Park Soccer Association parent Bryce Ormiston, who along with his wife, Annie, helped organize the donation effort. "What happened was we try to keep all of the same uniforms for teams, but this year they quit making (the style).

"Essentially, the entire association received new uniforms, but we had all of these old uniforms people just bought a year ago or two years ago. So different parents suggested we try to find a place to donate the uniforms," he said.

Eventually, their efforts landed on GOALS Haiti, which boasts a mission of advancing youth leadership through soccer and education to create stronger, healthier communities in rural Haiti.

"One of the biggest things that made us say this is awesome was they partner with communities and they are always trying to add communities in Haiti to make sure the uniforms and equipment are used," Ormiston said.

The nonprofit organization was in need of old soccer uniforms and equipment (cleats, socks, shin guards), which is exactly what the Fairview Park Soccer Association collected last week.

In addition, Ormiston, who works at Saint Joseph Academy, reached out to the school's soccer team about the donation efforts. They responded with cleats size 7 and larger, which is a specific need for GOALS Haiti, as well as shin guards and socks.

Total donations included 175 uniform kits (shirts and shorts), 60 pairs of socks, 20 pairs of cleats and $175 in donations to cover shipping costs.

Overall, Ormiston said he's proud of the local soccer community's efforts.

"When my kids get a new uniform, they're super-excited," Ormiston said. "They feel like they're walking on water. So I think this was just more of a love of soccer and helping other families have that same experience."

Added Fairview Park Soccer Association player Luke Andrachik, 9, "Giving up something for the happiness of others is an act of kindness we like to do."