The Linda Vista Collaborative, Bayside Community Center, Volunteer San Diego, the Linda Vista Park and Recreation, Nomads Soccer Club, International Friendship Soccer League, and the U.S. Futsal Federation  teamed up to organize the II Linda Vista Soccer Cup, a weekend soccer tournament to highlight the benefits of organized recreation in lower income areas to help the fight against childhood obesity.

“We’re fighting an obesity epidemic in this country and its programs like this that are absolutely wonderful,” County Supervisor Ron Roberts, one of the sponsors of their weekend’s tournament said.

160 kids from Linda Vista and other neighboring communities participated in the tournament and over 150 volunteers helping to make it happen. The effort is part of Volunteer San Diego’s 2009 Serve-a-thon, with over 40 projects taking place from October 2-4. Projects for the 19th annual Serve-a-thon were selected to bring a spotlight to poverty-related issues.

“We have over a thousand volunteers that are mobilized to work in the area of poverty by planning community gardens that will give access to people who need food, backpacks for kids, working to renovate facilities that are serving those who are economically disadvantaged,” Sue Carter, the Executive Director of Volunteer San Diego said.