MONTREAL -- Several years ago, a McGill student living near the University's athletics complex founded "Meals for Milton Parc", a student-led, community-based initiative that supports the homeless who live in the Milton Parc area. Now, the program is flourishing and providing much-needed support to a community that is particularly in need at this moment.
The McGill men's soccer program has a track record of successful fundraising campaigns, emphasizing the importance of great support from both alumni and the community. "As a team, we promised one another that we would use this support to not only better our program on the field, but also as an opportunity to use sport for social transformation," said Francesco Pisegna, a third-year goalkeeper with the Redbirds. While the COVID-19 pandemic did delay certain initiatives, "Meals for Milton Parc" stood out as a worthwhile cause that both teams could pitch in to support.
This past Saturday, Francesco, along with teammates Chris Cinelli-Faia and Ramdane Tafer, toured the island, stopping at teammates homes to pick up donations, which ranged from non-perishable items to hand-sanitizers, masks and clothing.
"We are committed to the idea that we as varsity athletes have a responsibility to give back and enrich our community," said Pisegna, a neuroscience junior. "For this reason, we decided to collect the aforementioned items and work with another student-led organization in order to promote the idea that we as students can have a positive impact on our community. We are proud of our team's ability to come together as a unit, and have such a successful fundraising campaign."
He says that everyone was eager to get involved in the project, from freshmen to fifth-year veterans and it includes players spread across both the country and the globe.
"It took every one of us to reach our goal," says Pisegna. "We are hoping to continue along this path and giving back to the communities that have played an important role in shaping who we are as McGill student-athletes."
