At about 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5, Oyster Bay resident Alex Gallego was just stepping off the treadmill at Evolution Fitness Gym as part of his morning routine when his attention was caught by a colorful mound of backpacks and school supplies piled against the back of the gymnasium. Gym owner Steve Gourlay, Jr. informed him that they were part of a collaboration effort with the Brooke Jackman Foundation to donate supplies to the youth victims of Hurricane Katrina. But without adequate time and help, however, the supplies had just been sitting there.

When Mr. Gallego-a financial advisor for Ryan Beck & Co, who dedicates his energy to various youth or hunger charities in spite of his hectic work days-heard this, his ears perked. He immediately volunteered the help of the Falcons, the third and fourth grade OBEN (Oyster Bay East Norwich) girls' soccer team for which he serves as head coach; they would arrive that same evening around 8 p.m., directly after practice, he said.

The girls, still ruddy-faced and in their grass-stained uniforms, set to work with a fierce communal energy and sense of purpose. Books, crayons, rulers, erasers, notebooks and glue-sticks, new and ready for use, soon filled backpacks like treasure troves, amidst an air of smiles, encouragement, and music.

"I'm proud of them," said coach Gallego, "proud of their responsibility as athletes, and for their willingness to serve their community and the less fortunate." Indeed, that sense of responsibility to their community seemed to come swiftly and naturally to team-members Olivia Ballone, Meghan Butler, Sonja Drabin, Fiona Flannigan, Natalie Gallego, Sabrina Iacone, Stephanie Mattocks, Kelly McKeon and Emily Schlitcht.

Mr. Gallego also remarked on how extremely receptive the parents of team-members were. That spontaneous morning, as he made phone calls from his office to the team's families, every single parent expressed dedication without a hint of hesitation. Among those present on-site were Mrs. Ballone, Mrs. Butler, Mr. Drabin, Mrs. Flannigan, Mr. Iacone, Mr. Mattocks, Mrs. Schlitcht, and assistant coach Bill McKeon, with his son Kyle. Also among their ranks, offering help and support, were Randy Gordon, former NY state boxing commissioner and trainer at Evolution Fitness Gym; owner Steve Gourlay, Jr; and Gallego's son AJ.

The Brooke Jackman Foundation was founded shortly after 9/11 in 2001 in honor of Brooke Jackman, of her strong-willed dedication toward children and literacy. The "Brooke Packs" assembled by the Falcons and other supporters will be picked up by Staten Island resident Frank Siller in conjunction with members of the NYC fire department in Staten Island, collected among their own donations and charity efforts, and delivered to schools throughout New Orleans.

As the last backpack was packed neatly into the corner of the last box, the girls, their parents, their coaches, and everyone else all stood up to bask for a moment in the echo of collective applause. It had been a long day, but not without a sense of accomplishment. Each of the girls was radiant with hope; each prepared parcel laden with thoughts of how good some young student in New Orleans will feel upon receiving it. And with that, as the applause tapered, they cheered and "booked it out" of the gym in their cleats to raid the cooler.