UTEP Students Build Soccer Field for Homeless Shelter

UTEP physical therapy students will inaugurate a soccer field for children at homeless shelter.

Children at La Posada Home in downtown El Paso will get a backyard soccer field in time for Christmas, all thanks to students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at The University of Texas at El Paso.

Around 33 students from the class of 2016 Department of Physical Therapy at UTEP raised more than $6,500 to lay down a synthetic turf in La Posada’s backyard and purchase athletic equipment, including a net and soccer balls for the children. Volunteers cleared rocks and other debris from the backyard before the 52-foot by 30-foot artificial field was installed thanks to volunteers and fundraising events, to make the field a reality.

The children living in the homeless shelter will play a mini soccer match to inaugurate the soccer field coming up on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015 and UTEP students will hand out soccer balls and recognize community supporters during the event including a donated soccer ball signed by the UTEP women's soccer team.

La Posada provides shelter, support, education, recreation and assistance to women and children who are experiencing homelessness. Families may stay up to a year and are able to develop healthy, long-term goals for their families. La Posada provides assistance in the search for permanent housing.