How SB Athletico Soccer of Smithtown has kickstarted a mission of hope in the community
SB Athletico Soccer of Smithtown has hit a winning goal during the COVID-19 Pandemic. From the very beginning of the shelter in place order, the SB Athletico League Administration, Coaches, Trainers and Players have been tirelessly working to feed hospital staff, while keeping the lights on at local shops. Together they have rallied to collect donations from families and small businesses to feed the heroes at Stony Brook University Hospital as they battle the COVID-19 virus.
When NY State Executive Orders came down to observe social distancing, SB Athletico Soccer President and Owner Robert Draper decided to continue his mission of molding future generations into champions. He kept his team of soccer professionals employed and tasked his league with a higher cause. Draper made it the mission of his soccer club to raise money and buy food from struggling local businesses to distribute to the frontline workers at Stonybrook Hospital EMS and Emergency Department.
Mercep Brothers Butcher in St James has donated funds multiple times to help support fellow businesses along Lake Avenue while feeding the heroes battling the COVID-19 pandemic on the front lines. St. James family and owners of 7-11 on Lake Avenue supplied coffee for medical professionals as well as donated $300 to fund meals from a number of local shops. Thanks to a generous donation from Robert Draper from Draper assets management, Blt Cafe in St James was able to make breakfast sandwiches for Stony Brook University Hospital Rocco’s Pizzeria matched the SB Athletico Familiy’s order for 30 pies, by making a total of 60 Pizzas for Stony Brook University Hospital. Garguilo’s bakery prepared Easter Sunday pastries for the Medical Heroes at Stony Brook University Hospital. Thanks to Local UTZ route owner Derek Lave and the Families of SB Athletico of Smithtown a donation of snacks and fresh baked treats was delivered to front line workers at SBU. A donation from SB Athletico of Smithtown soccer club and club president Robert Draper of Draper asset management made it possible for St James Pasta & Pork to supply gourmet dinners to front line workers Head Of The Harbor Police Department donated the funds for Spuntinos of St James to deliver 15 large pizza pies for our frontline workers. Maria Eleni Zollo sings Ave Maria for Stony Brook University Hospital Staff on Easter Sunday.
Smithtown Native and SB Athletico Club Manager Dave Phaff tells Smithtown Today how the mission to teach his players to give back to the community has kickstarted a movement.
“It’s been an honor, watching our players step up in these trying times… I am so proud to be a small piece of this large group of people who have come together to help the community, frontline workers, and families… At the beginning of all of this, most people were asking already struggling businesses to donate food for first responders. We wanted to take it a step further and put some money back in the tills of these mom and pop shops. These are the businesses that have sponsored local little leagues and sports teams over the years. Our leagues players wanted to help the people who have helped them for all these years.”
– Dave Phaff, SB Athletico Club Management
Giving Back to the Community:
Each week, SB Athletico Soccer players devote their time cooking with family, making homemade meals to deliver to medical professionals and caregivers fighting the coronavirus at hospitals, nursing homes and healthcare facilities. In between online training and cooking, the families of SB Athletico fundraise and collect monetary donations from local organizations to purchase meals from struggling local small businesses.
Draper Assets Management, 7-11 on Lake Avenue, the Utz Quality Foods local route, Mercep Brothers Butcher and the Head of Harbor Police Department have all donated funds for the club to place orders from struggling businesses. Each week, shops like Blt Cafe, Dunkin’ Donuts, 7-11, Spuntinos, Garguilo’s Bakery, Rocco’s Pizza, and St. James Pasta & Pork have supplied the soccer club with meals, and snacks which were delivered to the medical professionals at Stony Brook Hospital on the front lines of the virus. Additionally, the SB Athletico families have delivered homemade baked goods to St James Nursing Home staff, who are equally enduring loss as they battle the impossible to protect their residents.
The SB Athletico Soccer family took things a step further on Easter Sunday. In addition to the soccer leagues Sunday delivery, Smithtown resident and Opera singer, Maria Eleni Zollo performed Ave Maria, a cappella in the parking lot for a standing room only crowd of grateful Stony Brook University Hospital workers.
Coming up this week, the SB Athletico soccer club of Smithtown will show their support to the Veterans hospital. With continuous donations from SB Athletico families donations and a generous monetary contribution from Mercep Brothers, the club will deliver an all american barbecue to the Northport VA. Prime meats have been donated by Merceps Brothers Butcher in St James for Up In Smoke BBQ to grill and prepare the meals. Due to the pandemic, Up in Smoke BBQ has been forced to shut down. However, without hesitation they offered to grill and cook all day as a Thank You to those who have served our Country.
Keeping Soccer Kicking:
Club President, Rob Draper of Draper Asset Management has allowed for the SB Athletico of Smithtown staff to remain on salary. Because of his generosity, the Soccer Club has been able to provide free online soccer training and fitness programs for the players to perfect their skills.