Newtown teen Matthew Blanco visited NYA Sports & Fitness, 4 Primrose Street, on the afternoon of August 25, to continue collecting soccer balls, cleats, and related gear for the Kick For Nick charity drive.

The Kick For Nick Foundation was established to honor the life of PFC Nicholas A. Madaras of Wilton who died in 2006 from an IED explosion while serving in Iraq.

According to the Kick For Nick website, kickfornick.org, Mr Madaras’ passion for soccer and wish to share the sport with Iraqi children led to Ken Dartley of Wilton starting a program of collecting soccer balls in Mr Madaras’ honor. Today, the international program has distributed 52,245 balls throughout 47 countries thanks to local collection drives like the one in Newtown.

Matthew was inspired to volunteer his time after his high school, St Joseph in Trumbull, had a charity drive for the foundation during the last school year.

"Being a varsity soccer player myself, and as I hope to attend the United States Naval Academy, Nicholas Madaras’ mission spoke to me," Matthew said. "A few months after the successful drive ended at my school, I decided that I wanted to do the same thing in Newtown. ... This charity is a beacon of hope in many underprivileged children’s lives and spreads the gift of soccer to kids all over the world."

Kick For Nick will have a donation box set up at the C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, during library hours, through September 15. It is located on the first floor hallway of the library near the back stair entrance.

For more information, contact local coordinator Matthew Blanco at matthew63tbl@gmail.com.