we have a new date for the collection of used baseball equipment for roberto's kids, an oneonta-based organization that sends the equipment to poor boys and girls in latin america. the organization is named after roberto clemente.
the collection is set for sunday, august 16th at new scotland field, from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
(rain date is the following sunday, august 23rd, also from 11:30 till 2 pm)
the 45s will still be playing their regular season those weekends, and my team, the vets, plays the 2:30 game vs. the As on the 16th at new scotland.
steve pindar, the organization's founder, said he'll be there to take the material back to oneonta, where he and his wife will lisa store it for shipping.
last year, the oneonta couple collected 18 tons of equipment for the kids from 26 states and canada and sent it off in container ships.
three years ago, when our league's players participated in the first collection here, steve estimated that we donated 750 pounds worth of equipment, which was terrific.
this year, i'm hoping we can top that and pass the 1,000-pound mark. so far, about six guys in three age divisions have given me what i'd guess is about 100 pounds worth of stuff. which is great. only 900 more to go.
donations from everybody in the league - from the 18s through the 55s - are welcome. i'd love to have you all meet steve - and perhaps lisa if she'll be joining her husband - on the 16th; they're really remarkable people.
if individuals can't make it to new scotland on the 16th, there are three ways to contribute:
one is to ask if one player on your team might pick up donations at one of your upcoming games and bring them to the field on the 16th; that way, guys don't have to stop by individually.
another is to bring equipment to me at my over-35 shaskys' games. those games are:
today (mon. 7/27) vs. the orioles at bob moore stadium;
wed. 7/29 - vs. the marlins at new scotland.
aug. 8 - over 35 playoffs (wherever shaskys plays)
a third is to contact steve and lisa directly in oneonta and drop off equipment there. their address is: Roberto's Kids, 55 Union Street, Oneonta, NY 13820 Office (607) 432-7440 USA EST Cell (607) 437-8779 USA EST http://www.robertos-kids.org
thanks, guys, in advance for your thoughtfulness and generosity.
if there is anyone who wants to give to this great cause, they can bring their equipment, etc. to any of the 35 or 45 marlin games and i will keep them until the 16th of august and bring them.
and yes, baseball pants are welcome, as is almost anything to do with baseball.
fyi, heard from steve today: he said that roberto's kids has so far sent equipment to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and, last year, Cameroon, Africa. that was the first equipment sent to Africa.
this year, organization will be turning its attention to the United States. steve said roberto's kids is also "planning to send equipment to an Indian Reservation and is talking to organizations about assisting to worthy leagues here in the US."
