Does anyone know of a needy situation

You might want to PM Krakatoa. He coaches a team in South Korea that is always in dire need of equipment.

Last year we contributed to a drive that was sponsored by a couple Eagle Scouts, Albert Pujols and a few other Dominican players. If I remember correctly Pujols paid for it to be shipped to the Domincan Republic. There were some pro players and retired players who went there and ran a camp for those kids. You might try their website www.pujolsfamilyfoundation.com and email the contact. If that does not work PM me we should be able to get some info from our son's former coach, just let me know.

Also see if you have a Boys Club they often take donations to help with funding their sports teams.

Another thing we have done in the past is having a "Swap Meet" or Used Sporting good sale then donate the cash to a good cause.

Good Luck!

quote:

Your remark may be a insult to the South Korea players in my opinion. South Korea is not a third world country like you think.

kbat, you may be right in saying that Krak's team needs sponsor dollars more than equipment, but I was in no way trying to denigrate the country of South Korea. To my knowledge, Krak's players are not South Korean, but American -- the children of American servicemen stationed overseas, many of whom may not have a lot of extra money to spend on things like cleats and gloves for their kids.

Great idea Skipper! As you may already know, kids in Cuba are amongst the most needy in this hemisphere, and they absolutely worship baseball. They get very little from outside Cuba- gloves and balls are sacred. This pic was taken (and the gloves donated) by the Santa Barbara Foresters during their visit to Havana last summer.


I just saw this, Alabama has been granted permission to go to Cuba in December. Presumably they will play an exhibition with the Cuban National Team. You might try contacting the U of Alabama baseball office: Baseball - Box 870393, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 - (P) 348-4029 and ask Coach Wells if they'd be interested in bringing some equipment along to give to the kids.

quote:

Originally posted by kbat2012:
I don't think I can find any team in the US who will buy USED cleats. JMHO. I don't know about the used gloves market. Some people will be good used gloves because they don't like to break in the new gloves by themself.

Wow you are fortunate then not to see some of the teams that play inner city or very rural ball. I have seen teams were the coach brings whatever cleats he can find at the Goodwill or Salvation Army stores which he has paid for himself, and hands them out to boys who are so grateful they wear them no matter if they are 2 sizes too small or 3 sizes to big with or without socks. I know in our house there have been cleats worn to 3-4 games and outgrown, they looked like new, the neighboor boy loves having those hand me downs. I have also seen coaches also bring bats & gloves to the game that he has gathered from garage sales or end of the year lost and founds, handed them out and collected them at the end of the game so they had gloves for the next time. Not all kids are buying up $200 gloves and $400 bats, you'd be surprised how many would stand there with tears in their little eyes to play with the equipment your son may call junk.

We have a program here in StLouis were school supplies are donated to less fortunate kids. Less fortunate is an understatement. Teachers of these kids go and work volunteer hours sorting these supplies so they can pick items to take back to their class. There was a teacher that picked out ONE box of crayons so that everyone in her class could have a crayon at the same time. Another little boy cried because of a used paperback book drive allowed him to read, keep and take home the first book he ever owned. He was so proud of that book you'd have thought it was made out of gold!

There are many out there in our country, in our town and probably yours too not to mention around the world who need and appreciate used/donated items. Please remember one mans trash is another mans treasure!

lefty34, good post. Im afraid so many of us live in comfort we forget that their are kids here in this country who struggle for equipment as well as three meals a day.

Infield08, Didnt see your post as an insult . who knows what they have and dont have over there.

quote:

Originally posted by kbat2012:
Try the PLay It Again Sports store around your area.
They take used cleats & gloves if it's in fair conditions. Try the following link for the location nears you.

http://www.playitagainsports.com/


Well, you may have a good intention, but why put "South Korea" into the content? And you knew his team are mostly Americans. If I were you I would rephrase as

"You might want to PM Krakatoa. He coaches a team that is always in dire need of equipment."

Gee thanks, kbat.

What are your intentions?


When I read the first post, I initially thought of Krak's team made up of players who are the sons of those of us serving our country and are not only in South Korea but also in war zones.

Good points, Lefty.

Thanks for the efforts, T-S.

I posted a site a few months back fronm the US Post office where you can donate. You can use their flat rate to send out equipment.
I'll try to look for the post and get the address or yuo can go onto the US postal service for ingo.

quote:

Originally posted by kbat2012:

quote:

Originally posted by Infield08:
You might want to PM Krakatoa. He coaches a team in South Korea that is always in dire need of equipment.

To my knowledge, Kra's team needs your sponsor dollars, I doubt they will need the used cleats or gloves. Your remark may be a insult to the South Korea players in my opinion. South Korea is not a third world country like you think. On the other hands, nowadays kids spend thousands to play baseball, they are buying the $200 glove and $400 bat like crazy, I don't think I can find any team in the US who will buy USED cleats. JMHO. I don't know about the used gloves market. Some people will buy good used gloves because they don't like to break in the new gloves by themselves.

kbat - it would be most appreciated if you do not call people out this way in the future. Infield08 is one of our most respected members and her post was obviously with good intentions. Krak has been on these boards numerous times asking for donations and I thought it was an outstanding suggestion.

Sorry my answer wasn't politically correct enough for you, kbat. I mentioned South Korea in response to trojan skipper's comment: "This could be in the USA, Latin America, or wherever you may know of a group in need." My purpose was to identify the area of the world to which the high school team would need to send their donation.

As a former exchange student in an Asian country, I know full well that South Korea is not a third world country and I would imagine that anyone who watched the 1988 Olympics in Seoul is aware of South Korea's affluence. Even so, there may be a few teams over there in need of some donations, just as there are some U.S. teams in need of the same.

kbat2012

quote:

I don't think I can find any team in the US who will buy USED cleats. JMHO.

....Bet I could.

A good deed, donations of gear,....the needy,....kids,..and baseball.
Why draw a border line over this?

Infield08,...I thought of Krak too as soon as I read trojan skippers post, and I also thought of Bob Williams ( aka: Consultant ) who would probably have some good leads on teams who could use equipment,...both nationally and internationally.

Quote from Krakatoa in a previous post:

quote:

I coach the Falcons; a high school baseball team made up of players who are the sons of those of us serving our country abroad. Though we are in Korea, we do have a number of parents currently on tour in southwest Asia. Our fundraising efforts are very much limited because of our location. Each year we are given two dozen new gameballs and that's about it. We must come up with our own uniforms, bats, MORE balls, training equipment, caps, etc.

I have always balked at asking our servicemember families to pay out of pocket for the things their kids need to field a respectable team. They have never complained, and never will, but they generally don't make a lot of money. This year I have decided to try and fundraise as much as I can to help save these families some money, and to give our boys the uniforms and equipment they deserve. ..... Please PM with anything you might have. Thanks!

Spizzle:
GREAT pic! Just look at those faces!

If I may just tiptoe in here for a second, not to stir the pot at all, but just to clarify....my players are indeed US citizens and sons of US servicemembers and civilians stationed over here. However, it really is an intriguing and engaging blend of cultures. The majority of the students in our schools here are Amerasian (serviceman/civilian meets Korean gal, falls in love, gets married, and raises wonderful kids). It is a home-away-from-home sort of thing, and we all try to get along as best we can, and making the best of being so far away from all we know and love back home.

As far as gear, if anyone has used bats that still have some pop (32"-34" drop 3), or baseballs that are still in fairly good shape, we can definitely always use those things (PM me for address). Through some extremely kind donations by HSBBW members and a couple of Korean neighbors who love baseball, we were able to get new uniforms, caps, a few new bats, batting gloves, team t-shirts, five new helmets, and a mid-level pitching machine that we have wanted forever! We can hardly wait to start playing ball in March! I've had more kids coming out to Sunday workouts than ever before because of the excitement that is building over the program thanks to the new equipment/apparel these donations have helped to procure.

Thanks HSBBW!

quote:

Originally posted by trojan-skipper:
For a fall service project for our hs team I was wondering if any of you know of a program that would be in need of used cleats and gloves. My guys could easily collect several and box them up and ship them.

This could be in the USA, Latin America, or wherever you may know of a group in need.
thanks

Skipper, my son's former high school coach could certainly put that kind of used baseball items to use! Please read the below link and you can decide if this is kinda what you were thinking about.

http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/archive/7812/

If it is, send me a PM and I will give you his cell phone number to call him.

Good day.

here it is
www.pitchinforbaseball.org

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
here it is
www.pitchinforbaseball.org

This is a great organization started by a friend. Many of the baseball players in the area do their church or school community service for PIFB.

Thanks for all your input folks... I am following up on your ideas and leads.
Keep the info flowing and if we settle on one or two or more solid ideas I will definitly keep you posted.

Thanks again.