We Care Soccer Camp, an annual summer camp established by Fishtown and Roman Catholic High School soccer legend Pat Cain, offers neighborhood children a fun and free chance to learn the game of soccer each summer. Founded in 1994, the camp has grown each year, now attracting over 200 children ages 4 to 11 from the Riverward communities of Philadelphia.

We Care Soccer Camp provides weeklong activities to its campers. This year’s camp begins on July 27th and concludes on the 31st. It runs from 9AM until noon each day. Volunteer counselors help teach fundamentals (like footwork, passing and on-field communication) through various drills and scrimmages. At the camp’s conclusion each camper receives a ball, soccer bag, a tee shirt, and a week full of memories spent with friends, teammates and mentors.

We Care Soccer Camp operates thanks to monetary donations from local businesses and from the time of volunteers. This year, the camp received $3,500 for their 2015 summer soccer clinic from the Penn Treaty Special Services District.

“Donations are the only way that something like this can work,” Cain, who is extremely proud that his camp doesn’t charge children and their families a dime, told The Spirit. “I’m disappointed that other people with soccer knowledge charge kids for camps.”

We Care Soccer Camp is looking for volunteers to help train this year’s participants. If you’re eager to help, come by Shissler Rec on Friday, July 17th from 6:30-8PM to speak with Pat and sign on for the week.