Washington, D.C. (October 10, 2013) – D.C. United today announced, through the United Drives program, that it will be collecting toiletries for Thrive DC on Saturday, Oct. 12, before United’s match against the Philadelphia Union at 7 p.m. ET. BUY TICKETS HEREBar soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, travel size items, etc., will be distributed to homeless individuals in the greater Washington, D.C., area thorough Thrive DC’s “Daily Bread/Daily Needs” program.
“We are thrilled to once again with an organization as great as Thrive DC,” said D.C. United Director of Community Relations Aprile Pritchet. “It is through partnerships like this that we can work together and really make a difference in the DC metropolitan area.”
“Donations of toiletries such as this through the United Drives program are vital to Thrive DC's ability to provide approximately 4,000 free showers every year to men and women who are living in shelter or on the street,” said Thrive DC Executive Director Alicia Horton. “The showers we offer are one part of a broader effort to help individuals in crisis achieve stability and begin on a path toward self sufficiency.”
The United Drives booth is located outside of RFK Stadium’s Gate A and will open an hour and a half prior to kickoff, closing 15 minutes into the first half. Any fan that donates an item will receive a “Buy One, Get One Free” ticket voucher valid for any D.C. United regular-season home game as well as a United promotional item, as a thank you from the club. Donations are accepted in the D.C. United offices on game and non-game days, located on the fourth floor of RFK Stadium.
Thrive DC began in 1979 for Homeless Women, and over time, the program began serving morning meals to homeless men and women, and now has created a job training program and introduced case management and education programming. The organization’s mission is to prevent and end homelessness by providing vulnerable individuals with a comprehensive range of services to help stabilize their lives.
A D.C. United signature program, United Drives assigns a different charity drive for each month of the MLS regular season, including the collection of food, children’s books and soccer equipment. For more information on the United Drives program or to receive more information about any of D.C. United’s Community Relations’ initiatives, please contact Aprile Pritchet at apritchet@dcunited.com.
