On Saturday, January 15 the FC Dallas East ’01 Girls team hosted a lock-in at Rockwall Indoor Sports Expo (RISE) to benefit teammate Samantha Meza.  On December 12 Samantha was involved in a car accident on her way to RISE for an indoor tournament game.  She was taken to Children’s Hospital and underwent surgery for a skull fracture and numerous facial fractures.  
 
Samantha spent a week in the hospital recovering.  She was able to attend the lock-in, and although she couldn’t participate in the physical activities, her mother Alma Santos said the experience was great for Samantha.
 
“Sam had a blast,” said Santos.  “It was good for her emotionally and mentally because she hasn’t really been able to be that active since the accident.”
 
One hundred players, siblings, cousins and friends representing eight different FC Dallas East teams attended the event that was put together and supervised by 30 volunteers. 
 
Food and drink donations were contributed by four of the youth teams, as well as several families. The lock-in was sponsored by Cici's Pizza, SG Marketing & Sales, Hester’s Towing, Rockwall Indoor Sports Expo, Lil' Kickers, FC Dallas East, Carter’s Automotive, Master’s Automotive, A-Team Repairs & Service, Sanchez Insurance & More, Mesquite Towing and Party Guyz Rentals & Bounce Houses.
 
The benefit featured an obstacle course relay race, bounce houses and games of volleyball, basketball, flag football, hide and seek, tag, and of course, soccer. Donations and ticket sales for the lock-in raised just over $2,000 to help offset Samantha’s medical expenses, and donation pledges continued to roll in via e-mail in the following days.
 
Samantha’s mother teared up when explaining how much the support of Samantha’s FC Dallas family meant to her and her family.
 
“It’s really hard to describe, but my family and I are really, really grateful to them because we have not been on the team for that long and it just seems like we’ve known each other forever,” said Santos.  “It’s amazing to me because I’ve never been in a situation like this as far as helping other people, and we just can’t describe it.  We’re very grateful.”
 
For more information or to help Samantha’s family, e-mail Mike Harrington at fcdallaslockin@yahoo.com.