The University of Minnesota Duluth soccer team will proudly partner with Life House to kick off the 2017 Kicks for Causes fundraiser for the season opener this Thursday (Aug. 31). Since 2014, the Bulldogs soccer club have used designated home match ups throughout the season as a way to give back to the community by having the student-athletes select organizations to highlight and directly work with. Over the past three years, current-and-former players have campaigned with over 15 organizations to promote awareness and help fundraise through Kicks for Causes.

Life House is a Duluth-based nonprofit that works with homeless and street youth ages 14 to 24 through comprehensive services. Their mission is to reconnect homeless and street youth to their dreams and to make sure none are left homeless, alone, uncared for, or fending for themselves on the streets. Their programs are centralized to engage, stabilize, heal and thrive. Located in downtown Duluth, Life House provides a youth drop-in center, mental health services, and an education and employment program. Additionally, they have over 40 units of supportive housing located across the Duluth community and have helped over 700 homeless and street youth each year.

Junior defender Lizzy Fontes took a while to find an organization that fit her search but it was a no-brainer once she found Life House. The Apple Valley, Minn. native was a part of LINC (Leaders INvested in Community) at Eastview High School. In Duluth, Fontes has gone with her fellow peers to volunteer at Laura MacArthur Elementary school and was involved in the Salvation Army's Adopt-A-Family program.

"After volunteering with my teammates last year at a few different events, I realize how lucky and fortunate we are to grow up with a great support system that others may not have," said Fontes. "The younger kids really appreciated the time we spent with them and they looked up to us as role models. A small gift or even just taking some time out of our day to mentor theses kids opened my eyes and made me appreciate little things that we sometimes take for granted."

Life House will have a booth located at the game for fans to donate to their cause. The following items are greatly in need and will be accepted at Thursday's game.

• $10 or $20 Gift cards for Super One, Target, Walgreens, or Walmart.
• Full-sized toiletry items (Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion, Body Wash, Deodorant)
• New socks and men's and women's underwear
• Baby food, formula, bottles and diapers
• Feminine Hygiene Products
• Non-perishable food items: canned fruits & vegetables, pasta sauce, pasta noodles, canned tuna
  & chicken, ramen noodles, mac & cheese

UMD encourages fans to help support this effort in any matter that they can. If you are unavailable to make it Thursday and are looking for additional information on Life House, click here, or still wish to donate, click here and follow the appropriate links. 

The action gets underway Thursday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at James S. Malosky Stadium when the Bulldogs take on the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.