Chasers in the Community

 

The Omaha Storm Chasers in conjunction with Chasers Charities and Spectra Food Services and Hospitality combined for over 600 hours of community service in the Omaha Metro this year, and welcomed nearly 90,000 fans to a safe and socially distant Werner Park in 2020.

“We are proud of our staff for continuing to work in the community during this especially difficult year and we will continue to pursue opportunities and plan events that provide community connections in 2021,” said Storm Chasers General Manager Laurie Schlender. “While we have had staff reductions and no baseball in 2020, our commitment to being involved in the community has not wavered and we are planning things for 2021 that will continue that commitment.”

The Storm Chasers organization was also visible throughout the Omaha Metro community, as the combined number of mascot and staff appearances totaled 75. Chasers Charities in partnership with The Weitz Company also awarded two $1,000 college scholarships through the Jackie Robinson Scholarship program to Livia McFadden and Nolan Christianson. The Chasers also partnered with numerous non-profit organizations throughout the year including Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Salvation Army, the Tangier Shrine, Project Wee Care and the Foodbank for the Heartland amongst many others. They also partnered with Jack Daniels to provide for Operation Ride Home for the second straight year.

A brand new classroom program, Chasers All-Stars, was also created in 2020 providing parents, teachers, and administrators the ability to nominate teachers from the metro to be honored. Over 20 classrooms were surprised in February and March with a visit from Stormy, a weather demonstration provided by KMTV and a variety of prizes.

Despite many challenges brought by Covid-19, the Storm Chasers remained committed to providing relief for the Omaha Metro Community. A partnership with Kidwell Inc. provided 25 gallons of hand sanitizer to the Ronald McDonald House in April and nearly $1000 was donated to the Foodbank of the Heartland through Feeding America, while donating tickets for the 2021 season to frontline workers. The Storm Chasers were also able to provide a sense of normalcy providing two free drive-in firework shows and six Curbside To Go pick up meals.

A full overview of the Storm Chasers’ 2020 Community Relations efforts can be found online here.

Timber Rattlers 2020 Charity Report

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers may not have been able to play any games during the 2020 season, but that did not stop Timber Rattlers Give Back, the team’s 501(c)3 organization, from raising money for local charities.

The annual Charity Golf Outing which was originally scheduled for June was held on September 10 at Shamrock Heights Golf Course in New London. Area golfers plus Timber Rattlers front office personnel collected nearly $9,000 through the golf and raffles that were held after the outing. A date for the 2021 Charity Golf Outing will be announced once a schedule for next season is completed.

The on-site garden was tended to with assistance from Freedom High School’s FFA chapter and it grew approximately 200 pounds of vegetables. The harvests were donated to St. Joe’s Food Pantry.

There is a current fund raiser for Timber Rattlers Give Back that the team has worked on with Pick N’ Save, Fox Communities Credit Union, Scheels, and Fleet Farm that fans can donate to yet this year.

Fang’s Virtual Trick or Treat Parade for Charity is taking entries and donations until October 28. Email a photo of your child or family in a Halloween costume and email the photo to Fang at his email address – Fang@timberrattlers.com – before this Wednesday. Make sure to include your child’s name, city, and costume with the photo.

There is no entry fee, but we are asking for a voluntary donation to Timber Rattlers Give Back. Donations may be made through this link on the Timber Rattlers Give Back website.

A slideshow video of the entrants will be premiered on our Facebook page at 6:30pm on Friday, October 30.

Thank you to everyone who assisted us during this challenging year. We look forward to a much better 2021.

Volcanoes Stadium to Host Community Market

 

The inaugural Volcanoes Stadium Community Markets in August and September were fabulous. Vendor space was Sold Out. Due to the Market’s success, and as a result of many requests, the Stadium Market will return. A fall market is set for Friday and Saturday November 6th and 7th. A Christmas market will be held Friday and Saturday December 4th and 5th_. *_Friday November 6th and Saturday, December 4th will feature an evening format running from 4pm to 8:30pm. Saturday, November 7th and Saturday, December 5th markets will run from 11am to 3pm. Santa Claus is expected to make an appearance at noon on Saturday, December 5th. The markets will be open-air in the Volcanoes Stadium parking lot and will feature free admission and free parking.

Location: Volcanoes Stadium ~ Keizer, Oregon

At a Glance – what to expect: An open-air market expected to bring a variety of Vendors, Food Trucks, Artists, Locally Grown Produce, Fruit, Flowers, Clothing, Jewelry, Crafts, Gifts and various Artisan works.

The market will follow COVID-19 protocols. Admission/Parking will be Free.

The Friday markets will open in the afternoon at 4pm and run into the evening until 8:30pm. Saturday’s hours will be 11am to 3pm. Santa Claus is expected to make an appearance at noon on Saturday, December 5th. A festival type atmosphere is expected with music and entertainment.

“We’re excited to provide an opportunity like this to the community,” said Volcanoes’ co-owner Lisa Walker. “Folks are looking for things to do and this is a perfect fit and something the entire family will enjoy.”

Vendors and entertainers can apply to participate by contacting Lisa Walker at [email protected] or text 503-851-3111 as vendor space is limited.

Vendor benefits:

Easy load-in, load-out (drive right to your booth)

High profile location adjacent to Interstate 5 and Keizer Station Shopping Center

Large 16’ x 20’ paved sites that are socially distanced

Expansive 12-acre site

Promoted through the power of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes’ social media platforms (ranked #2 in the nation).

13,000+ facebook followers, 6,000+ twitter, posted on 100+ facebook groups.

Advertised on Volcanoes Stadium Interstate 5 marquee with over 250,000 impression each day.

Posted and promoted on EventBrite and expected local media exposure.

Association with highly respected community organization and well-known venue

Free Admission ~ Plenty of on-site Free Parking

Professionally managed with over 30 years of event management experience

RV dry camp available for vendors

For details contact Lisa Walker [email protected] or text 503-851-3111.

Blue Wahoos Show Community Love Helping Residents, Agencies In Hurricane Recovery 

 

In the month that has passed since Hurricane Sally’s wrath, the Blue Wahoos have kept focused on community involvement.

It has involved front office staff members chopping trees and piling leaves. Bagging ice and hauling trash. Raking yards and fixing fences.

Barbecuing pork and dicing potatoes. Scooping vegetables and boxing meals. Crunching numbers and filing forms. Showing care and bringing grit.

One team, one community, one mission. All within a quest to help people and give boost to non-profit organizations.

“It has been extremely gratifying,” said Anna Striano, the Blue Wahoos merchandise manager and community relations coordinator, who has led and directed efforts among 20-plus co-workers to reach out and help with various projects since the Sept. 16 storm.

“One of the biggest things making this so special is that people typically see us as a baseball team or organization,” she said. “And that’s understandable. But they don’t see us in the realm of doing community service like this. And now, they have.

“So, I think what this has done is put us in front of new audiences, new places where we can help people and truly meet our mission statement to help improve the quality of life in our community.”

Last week, the Blue Wahoos were at the Brownsville Assembly of God Church helping Escambia County process grant applications for hurricane relief help with residents in the Brownsville community.

Since Sept. 21, the Blue Wahoos staff has combined to work more than 500 hours in a variety of community service efforts.

They were joined the first week by three members of the Mississippi Braves front office staff — Zach Evans, director of stadium operations, account executive Darius Green and office manager Christy Shaw.

The three M-Braves staff members stayed in the Blue Wahoos Airbnb at the stadium. During the day, they worked tirelessly with Blue Wahoos staff they met for the first time.

“They called us and said, ‘What can we do? What can we bring?’ They were such a big part of this effort, especially when it was the most labor intensive,” Striano said. “We’re grateful for the Mississippi Braves and traveling all this way to Pensacola to help.”

During that week, the Blue Wahoos group joined with Mercy Chefs – a national agency — to help prepare and serve meals to hundreds of people in the Brownsville community.

They helped clear debris from three University of West Florida managed museums and learning centers in the Pensacola Historic District.

They joined with the Salvation Army of Pensacola to help serve food.

They cleared massive amounts of debris from two homes of elderly season-ticket holders. One was the waterfront home of 91-year-old Vic Goeller and his wife, Diane.

“It was really gratifying to see everybody coming together during all of this,” said Striano, a native of Big Bear Lake, Calif. who joined the Blue Wahoos in 2017. “While everything is so crazy and everyone’s lives were kind of chaotic…. for everyone on our staff to take time to help… I think was very important.”

While helping aid the community, the Blue Wahoos staff stayed busy throughout the summer during an uncertain time in minor league baseball.

Since mid-March, back when spring training was halted during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the Blue Wahoos began to transition as if there would not be a minor league season.

That proved essential in a pivot to being an events-oriented company.

In April, Blue Wahoos co-owners Quint and Rishy Studer decided to keep all full-time staff employed. Most minor league teams suspended operations for the year and either furloughed or laid off their staffs.

The Blue Wahoos team began formulating ideas to start a variety of events, including the launch of the Airbnb clubhouse experience, along with delivering meals and reaching out to the community.

The mission magnified after Hurricane Sally struck Northwest Florida on Sept. 16.

“When we made the whole decision not to lay off anyone, we also knew we may not have a 2021 schedule for quite awhile,” Quint Studer said. “Without wrap-up of a season, without UWF football, we knew we were going to have staff availability.

“When we saw that, I kept thinking about two things. I thought about the Peace Corps, how young people use to go and do this marvelous work. And we also knew that with COVID-19, all these non-profit agencies were taking a beating and needed help.

“So both of those things played into how we would move ahead.”

The Peace Corps, established in 1961 by then-President John F. Kennedy, has now grown with Americans helping people in 141 different countries.

“I sort had this idea for a little bit of a Peace Corps feeling, because of learning how people used to return so enriched from what they accomplished,” Studer said. “I felt like we have this talented group of people on our staff and we really don’t have much for them to do right now.

“We know our from our Early Learning, our Early Brain Development initiatives that people are not able to give like they used to… philanthropy wise. So we can help.”

In an effort that followed the weekend after Hurricane Sally struck, the Blue Wahoos spent hours each day as a team going to different parts of the community to help.

“I spoke with people who said they couldn’t have done it without us,” Striano said. “Getting everybody there to these places and getting the bigger stuff out of the way, so they could come back and get the smaller stuff. It made their lives a little bit easier.”

One of the biggest was preparing full course meals on two days with the Mercy Chefs organization. It was part of helping Mercy Chefs, a faith-based, non-profit, disaster relief organization, based in Portsmouth, Va., serve more than 20,000 meals during their six-day stay.

A team from Mercy Chefs traveled to Pensacola and set up temporary headquarters in the Brownsville Community Center parking lot where they prepared meals during the morning and served food at lunch.

The Blue Wahoos staff impressed by immediate jumping in to prepare food under direction of five chefs from the organization.

“It was amazing,” said Molly MacDonald, the volunteer director for Mercy Chefs. “You need the volunteers to make sure this can all happen. With just five people traveling here from our (Mercy Chefs) team, you can’t push out 1,000 meals at a time — like we have done — without volunteers like this.

“I’m impressed with the heart of this community. We had people here from Alabama, Panama City and Tallahassee joining with the local volunteers in Pensacola. People coming from all over and helping neighbors.”

The Blue Wahoos are continuing their community outreach through Thanksgiving week with non-profit agencies. The efforts occur during a period when Major League Baseball is deciding the direction and future for Minor League Baseball.

It’s uncertain when a 2021 schedule will be finalized or other operational matters. But the non-profit help is something that continues keeping the staff active.

“Many of these non-profits have been forced to downsize,” Quint Studer said. “And these non-profits do such great work in our community. My thought was, hey we can help them get over a hump by giving them talented staff.

“When you look at our staff, we have finance people, operations people, grounds people, sales people, technology people, media communications people… and so forth. In essence we have a whole company you can utilize. It could be for a day, could be for a month.

“I also feel like so much of our staff will be enriched. To see it happen like this, I definitely feel special about it.”

Drive Set to Host Two Marquee Community Events at Fluor Field

 

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Drive is pleased to announce two upcoming marquee community events at Fluor Field. A new event, the Green Monster Mash (October 17), and a community favorite, the Upstate Veterans Salute (November 8), will offer free, family fun and a chance for the Upstate to once come together at Fluor Field – our community’s ideal outdoor social distancing venue.

Named after Fluor Field’s iconic Green Monster in left field, the first-ever Green Monster Mash Fall Festival will offer trick-or-treating, hayrides, a pumpkin patch, Halloween and fall-themed arts and crafts and a screening of the movie “Goosebumps” (rated PG). Trick-or-treating and other activities will run from 3-5 p.m., with the movie starting at 5 p.m. Movie seating is available on the field and in stadium seats, so bring a blanket and prepare to get spooky. Admission to The Green Monster Mash is free, but reservations are required and must be staggered to ensure social distancing. Reserve your spot today by clicking here

For the 5th straight year, the Upstate Veterans Salute, founded originally by the Drive & long-time community partners Michelin, General Electric, & Prisma Health, honors & recognizes our community’s Veterans & active military heroes. This year’s event will feature emotional & powerful Military focused programming, Military vehicle displays at the stadium gates, an aerial flyover by the vintage Warbirds Flyover Team, and a concert by up-and-coming country artist Filmore. South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette will provide the keynote address, and the salute will conclude with a patriotic fireworks display. Gates open at 3 p.m., with Filmore set to begin at 4:30pm. Socially distanced seating will be available both in stadium seats as well as in first come, first served “pods” set up on the field itself. As always, admission to the Upstate Veterans Salute is free but a ticket reservation is required. Reserve your tickets today at UpstateSalute.com.

“Despite the challenges of the last 7 months, the Drive’s commitment to the Upstate community is stronger than ever & we’re excited to announce our upcoming Halloween & Veterans Day events”, said Drive Vice President of Marketing, Jeff Brown. “We’ve all missed out on a lot this year, so, with these events, the Drive is thrilled to bring back some of the joy and fun we are accustomed to providing our community each year. We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy themselves in the safe and welcoming environment that is Fluor Field.”

Free food giveaway at PNG Field on October 13 and 20

 

CURVE, Pa. – The Altoona Curve and the Center for Independent Living of South Central PA are teaming up to help area residents in need with a drive-through food giveaway on Tuesday, October 13 and Tuesday, October 20.

The drive-through event will take place in the Peoples Natural Gas Field Tan Parking Lot from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., or until the food runs out. Each car will be given one box of produce, one box of dairy, one box of meats and one gallon of milk.

Greenville Drive host civic-minded 'Day of Action'



After the 2020 Minor League season was officially canceled, the Greenville Drive began marketing themselves as their community’s “ideal social distancing venue.” The team’s home of Fluor Field has since played host to a diverse array of events. Nearly all areas of the ballpark, from the luxury suites to the picnic area to the concourse to the field, have been made available for use.

On Saturday, Sept. 22, the Drive hosted their most civic-minded event of the year. As part of South Carolina’s state-wide “Day of Action,” Fluor Field served as a one-stop location for a smorgasbord of government-provided services. The menu, such as it was, included voter registration, census completion, COVID-19 testing, flu vaccinations, and the opportunity to procure REAL ID drivers licenses and identification cards from the DMV. Additionally the Drive partnered with one of their sponsors, the Blood Connection, to host a ballpark blood drive.

Each of South Carolina’s 25 counties staged a Day of Action. The majority took place at schools, churches and community centers. Fluor Field, representing Greenville County, was the only professional sports venue to serve as a host site.

“It was a one-stop shop for all these different things,” said Drive general manager Eric Jarinko. “We opened our gates to five different organizations, all of whom brought their own employees or volunteers. It was perfect for people to go out and do all that they needed to do in one spot.”

The Drive, the Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, were asked to accommodate the event due to their previous interest in using Fluor Field as a polling site.

“We’re now seeing NBA arenas, a few NFL stadiums and a couple Major League ballparks all being used for that purpose,” said Jarinko. “We were thinking about the importance of voting, now more than ever. And at the same time, with COVID going on, this is a perfect venue. It’s outdoors and we can really space people out. … Unfortunately, even though we were still more than two months out, there just wasn’t enough time to get everything squared away. Just in terms of all the people you have to communicate with, that your polling location isn’t this elementary school or this church. Now it’s the ballpark. We thought it was a great idea, but the immediate impact of people going to a new place just didn’t seem doable.

“But that led to us being asked to be the Greenville County location for the South Carolina Day of Action,” he continued. “The Day of Action was spearheaded by the lieutenant governor [Pamela Evette]. She’s been to the ballpark many times for our Military Appreciation nights, among other things. Anything we can do to be part something like this, we’re for it. We think the ballpark should be part of the fabric of the community. [Fluor Field] is privately owned, but when it comes to things like that, we want to operate as a public service like if it was the city that owned it.”

State lieutenant governor Pamela Evette and Drive mascot Reedy Rip’It took part in Fluor Field’s Day of Action.

Fluor Field’s spaciousness has proven to be a big part of its event hosting appeal. The facility, which has the same dimensions as Fenway Park as well as its own Green Monster-style outfield wall, features a wide concourse that extends roughly from foul pole to foul pole.

“Obviously, with everything going on with COVID, we had to have an entry and exit plan for everyone,” said Jarinko. “We used the Main Street gate as a check-in location, checking people’s temps as they came in. The COVID testing station was just outside the gates. I don’t recall anyone going for COVID testing and then wanting to come in for other things. There was a temperature check at the gate. Everyone was in masks, and everything was spaced out on the concourse. Fans came in through third base and then went to whatever stations that they were there for and then exited other way. So we were able to maintain 6 feet of distance easily. The event went from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., so were able to utilize our sound system and get ‘College GameDay’ on the videoboard.”

The Drive promoted Greenville County’s Day of Action via their social media channels, with local and state government spreading the word as well. Jarinko estimated approximately 500 people attended the event, which was fairly easy to oversee from the perspective of the team’s front-office staff.

“A lot of our staff had been busy with other events, so I said it was more important for them to come in if they needed to get any of that stuff done,” said Jarinko. “Honestly, I hadn’t got my REAL ID yet. I helped the DMV set up and then had them knock out mine before we opened up the gates. It was all pretty turnkey. I was there at 8, setting up tables. The volunteers arrived at 8:30, then we were ready to go at 9.”

From a larger perspective, the Drive’s participation in South Carolina’s Day of Action illustrates how Minor League ballparks can be utilized as spaces that support public health and foster the democratic process.

“Since day one, we’ve wanted people to understand that the Drive and Fluor Field stood for more than Minor League Baseball,” said Jarinko. “We’ve been creative with how we use the ballpark, and moving forward, we want to do more things like this.”

Benjamin Hill is a reporter for MiLB.com and writes **Ben’s Biz Blog**. Follow Ben on Twitter **@bensbiz**.


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Non-Profit Hero of the Week: Kids’ Harbor

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Southwest Missouri back in March, the impacts on the lives of local residents was immediate. But what happens when those impacts fall onto a portion of the population that is unable to help itself?

Specifically, what happens when kids who are victims of abuse, or drug endangerment, or physical and mental neglect, are suddenly confined to their homes? Well, that’s where Kids’ Harbor steps in.

Based out of Osage Beach and serving Lake of the Ozarks, Fort Leonard Wood and surrounding areas, Kids’ Harbor serves those children by providing resources to keep them safe and to assist with whatever situation they may be enduring. During COVID-19, doing that work instantly became more challenging. But the Kids’ Harbor staff accepted that challenge. And that’s why they’re this week’s Non-Profit Hero award winner, presented by American National Insurance.

You can view all of our Non-Profit Heroes at springfieldcardinals.com/heroes.

“We are so grateful to be chosen as a Cardinals Non-Profit Hero,” Kids’ Harbor Board President Tim Thompson said. “While we have all been dramatically affected by the COVID pandemic, children have suffered the most. Not only do they have to deal with the crisis but we know abuse has gone un-reported while kids have been locked down. Our staff has worked tirelessly to figure out how to serve and protect them all while having to adapt and overcome these challenges we all face.’

“Cardinals and American National support is incredibly helpful in getting this crucial message out: Please be aware and alert for signs of abuse, and if you see something, say something.”

At the onset of the pandemic, the State of Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline experienced a drastic drop (60%) in the number of hotline calls made. Reason being? Forty percent of those calls are made by school personnel.

“Kids, whose safe places had historically been school, church, extracurricular activities, etc., suddenly found themselves alone and isolated with no friends, teachers, or counselors to see them or report concerns,” one Non-Profit Heroes award nominator wrote. “Throughout the pandemic, Kids’ Harbor has continued to spread awareness to encourage the adults in our community to keep kids safe and report any concerns they see.”

Kids’ Harbor has remained open throughout the pandemic, providing forensic interviews and medical exams and providing counseling and advocacy to children and their safe caregivers.

Even if they had to work from home, Kids’ Harbor advocates continued to reach out to families who had experienced trauma and crisis to see how they could provide support and needed services.

Kids’ Harbor also provides support to local law enforcement and others who are tasked with investigating child abuse and related cases. Throughout the pandemic, Kids’ Harbor has found ways to assist in these difficult investigations virtually to make sure that their services continue uninterrupted.

“A big concern during the pandemic was the safety of children,” a Non-Profit Heroes award nominator wrote. “They weren’t being seen by the mandated reporters that they normally see. Stress was much higher than usual. Parents might not be working, money might be tight, kids were at home full time, and they were trying to homeschool their kids. This was a lot more pressure than they were used to. It could cause some people to deal with that stress by hitting their children or other things they normally wouldn’t do. Kids Harbor trained other people in the community on signs to watch for to help protect children.’

“These employees faced the same problems that we struggled with. But they never quit fighting for every child and safe caregiver that needed them. They are heroes every day and they really stepped up and made a big difference during the pandemic.”

How can you get involved?

Volunteers are such a big part of what make all of our Non-Profit Heroes, presented by American National Insurance, so great.

To get involved with Kids’ Harbor, visit kidsharbormo.org.

For more on what Kids’ Harbor is doing on a daily basis, follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/kidsharborinc.

Posted by Kids’ Harbor, Inc. on Monday, August 10, 2020

SC Counts Day of Action at Fluor Field on Saturday

 

The Greenville Drive are joining in on Lt. Governor Pamela Evette’s “2020 Census Day of Action Challenge”. This Saturday, September 26th from 9 AM to 2 PM, Fluor Field will serve as Greenville County’s location – joining 23 additional counties across the state – in a last-ditch effort to increase census participation before the September 30th deadline.

Additional important services will be provided at Fluor Field, including:

  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Flu Vaccinations
  • Voter Registration
  • SC DMV Read ID

Those wishing to take advantage of any and all of these services, will enter the ballpark through the Main Street Gate. A MASK MUST BE WORN TO ENTER FLUOR FIELD.

A limited edition “Vote. Baseball.” T-shirt, featuring the Greenville Drive logo, will also be available for purchase at the Greenville Drive Team Store, located outside of the Main Street Gate. The Team Store will open at 11 AM on Saturday.

South Carolina is currently lagging behind in the 2020 Census self-response rate. A complete county is critical for local governments to receive their fair share of resources from any federal and state programs for the next 10 years. In 2016, South Carolina received more than $12 billion from federal spending programs guided by data derived from the 2010 Census. South Carolina can’t afford to miss out!

Non-Profit Hero of the Week: Least Of These

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — In 2019, over 1 million pounds of food came through the Least Of These food pantry and into the hands of Christian County residents.

During the COVID-19 pandemic this year, that number has only increased.

Least Of These is the only full-service food pantry serving Christian County—one of the fastest growing counties in Missouri—and the cities of Nixa and Ozark, serving over 850 families a month in a normal year.

But due to the impacts of COVID-19, this year has seen an increase of 32% in families requesting assistance. That increased need has increased the pantry’s food distribution by 116% over last year.

The staff at Least Of These, which is now working with far less help than at the beginning of the pandemic due to many National Guard volunteers being recalled, has continued to meet demands for hundreds of people who often must choose between paying for food or paying for rent and utilities. And that’s why they’re this week’s Non-Profit Heroes award winner, presented by American National Insurance.

You can view all of our Non-Profit Heroes at springfieldcardinals.com/heroes.

“Least Of These continues to serve the most vulnerable in our community amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” Least Of These Executive Director Kristy Carter said. “The way our clients receive food is different right now, but the amount of food and the support each family feels when dealing with us has not changed. It is our commitment to continue to serve families in need in Christian County.’

“We have created and are following an emergency response plan to help those who are faced with food insecurity. As these times are scary and unknown, we will continue to provide food and hopefully remove that fear and anxiety.”

But as the fall and winter months approach, Least Of These continues to need the help of an ever-caring Southwest Missouri community to ensure that its families receive the resources they need.

“The past couple of weeks have demonstrated that it will be difficult to raise the necessary funding to continue to provide food for families faced with food insecurity in Christian County,” Carter said. “In one day alone this week, we served 266 Christian County families and we expect those numbers to continue to increase significantly as we rapidly approach the holidays.”

Least Of These began in 1998 as a community outreach project of a Nixa-based church. Over the past two decades they have grown from providing food assistance to seven families to over 10,000.

How can you get involved?

Volunteers are such a big part of what make all of our Non-Profit Heroes, presented by American National Insurance, so great. Least Of These relies on generous food and monetary donations from the community to provide assistance to struggling families. And they also rely on volunteers.

To get involved with Least Of These, visit leastofthesefoodpantry.org.

For more on what Least of These is doing for Christian County on a daily basis, follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/leastofthese.

Least Of These, Inc. is the only full-service food pantry serving Christian County. We feed around 900 families a…

Posted by Least of These, Inc. on Friday, September 18, 2020

Tulsa County Election Board Names ONEOK Field Early-Voting Location

 

The Tulsa County Election Board has announced that ONEOK Field will be used as the early voting location for the November 3rd election. ONEOK Field is normally home to the Tulsa Drillers, but it will open for three different periods for Tulsa County voters to complete ballots for the November election.

Throughout the country, several stadiums and arenas have been chosen as voting locations to help provide safe facilities for voters during the COVID pandemic.

The Tulsa County Election Board will be conducting in-person, early voting at ONEOK Field on Thursday and Friday October 29 and 30 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday October 31 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The election board is anticipating record-breaking voter participation for this three-day early voting period.

“We are pleased to announce that we will be partnering with ONEOK Field, home of the Tulsa Drillers in downtown Tulsa, as our chosen location for in-person, early voting,” said Election Board Secretary Gwen Freeman.

“The ONEOK Field location will enable Tulsa County voters to vote at a large, centrally-located venue where our staff and resources can be combined to ensure the success of our early voting teams and to assist in the implementation of CDC guidelines. These guidelines includes adequate room for large crowds and social distancing in a covered but open-air facility that helps prevent the spread of COVID. The venue is ADA compliant, has ample available parking areas, is easily accessible by public transportation and is a well-known and familiar location.”

“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to ONEOK Field management and the Tulsa Drillers team for offering the voters of Tulsa County the use of their location for this event,” said Freeman.

The election board is encouraging voters to wear masks and social distance while voting.

Freeman added that since the election board we will be utilizing all available staff members to facilitate early voting at one large site, the Tulsa County Election Board will not be available for early voting but will be open for other business, including in-person absentee ballot drop-off. Absentee ballots cannot be dropped off at ONEOK Field.

It is the first time that ONEOK Field has been utilized as a voting place. It joins other sports venues in large markets that are being used in this election, including Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and the Toyota Center in Houston.

“We are thrilled to be able to make ONEOK Field available for early voting and to help provide a safe, outdoor, polling location for all voters, including those with health concerns,” said Drillers President Mike Melega. “It’s a simple, yet impactful, way that the Drillers organization can give back to a Tulsa community that has always been there for us.”

Quick facts for early in-person voting for the November 2020 Presidential Election

Location: ONEOK Field (201 N Elgin Ave, Tulsa, OK 74120)

Dates and times: Thursday, October 29, 2020 8am-6pm
Friday, October 30, 2020 8am-6pm
Saturday, October 31, 2020 9am-2pm

Blue Wahoos’ Employees Available To Lend A Hand At Local Non-Profits

 

In their season without baseball, the Blue Wahoos were still able to spend the summer bringing the community into the ballpark.

Through varied events, the Wahoos worked to provide an outlet for families in the community to enjoy a safe, affordable night out while most other entertainment options were limited due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. All-in-all, the team held over 130 community events during the months they would have been playing baseball in a regular year.

With school back in session, the team transitioning into their would-be off-season, and many of the restrictions lifted across the community, the Blue Wahoos are again pivoting to help the community in new ways.

Beginning this week, the Blue Wahoos have made their staff available to help local non-profit organizations across Pensacola.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to meet our mission to make a difference in our community by reaching out area non-profit organizations,” said Anna Striano, the Blue Wahoos merchandise manager and community relations coordinator, who is directing efforts for staff help to area organizations.

“Everybody has been so appreciative of what we have been doing here at the stadium with our events and we’re so thankful for the support of our community. This is an opportunity for us to reach out and take it a step further and give people the help they are needing now.”

Area non-profits who would like to request volunteer help from the Blue Wahoos can do so by clicking this link. Through the link, registered 501c(3) non-profit organizations can supply the dates help is needed, a description of the project volunteers will help complete, and the number of helpers needed.

“Our mission as an organization is to help improve the quality of life in our community, and this is a great direct opportunity to do that,” team president Jonathan Griffith said. “A Minor League Baseball team has people on its staff with such varied skills, from groundskeeping to sales to website building to graphic design to event planning. We’re confident we can help find a staff member with the right skills to help local organizations no matter the project.”

The volunteer effort meets a quest by team owners Quint and Rishy Studer when they announced their decision in April to maintain full employment for the front office staff. The Blue Wahoos are among just a small handful of professional sports franchises at any level that did not reduce their staff during the ongoing pandemic.

“Quint and Rishy kept all of us on, and in return, the plan has been for us to help if we can with non-profit agencies,” said Striano. “If we have available hours, we can offer our staff to do whatever a non-profit organization might need. Whatever we can do to ease some of the burden that the COVID situation has created for them. We know that a lot of non-profits have probably been hit really hard. Lay offs have affected numerous local non-profits and the pandemic has made it difficult to find needed volunteers.”

Thanks to the commitment by the Studers, all front office employees, trainees, and interns kept their jobs for the season.

“It has been incredible to watch (the Studers) lay out and live out the mission they set for the organization,” Striano said. “In Minor League Baseball, and this being a smaller business industry, you get to know a lot of people working with other teams. Watching many of my friends in this industry be furloughed or lose their job entirely was heartbreaking and made me incredibly grateful for the opportunities we have here. It’s special to be with the Blue Wahoos.”

Non-Profit Hero of the Week: SeniorAge

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — From the very beginning of COVID-19’s impact in the United States and around the world, the most vulnerable population has been our seniors.

Suddenly, people couldn’t hug—or even visit—their parents or grandparents. Couldn’t offer them help on a daily basis.

Here in Southwest Missouri, SeniorAge filled that void in a big way. And they’re this week’s Non-Profit Heroes award winner, presented by American National Insurance.

Since 1973, SeniorAge has been serving thousands upon thousands of seniors in 17 counties in our region, primarily serving those aged 60 years and older and serving based on need—not income. The work they do plays a key role in a senior’s ability to remain independent and live at home.

In a normal year, part of that work includes serving over 1 million meals to seniors through home delivery and in their dining rooms.

But when COVID-19 hit and transitioned into a worldwide pandemic that reached us here in Missouri, SeniorAge was forced to close its senior centers to the public.

Yet the rate of meals and the volume of help only increased.

“From the beginning of the COVID interruption in mid-March when many organizations were forced to close their operations to the public, SeniorAge worked diligently to ensure seniors in our 17-county service area continued to receive meals and services that kept them safe in their homes,” SeniorAge Marketing Director Juli Jordan said.

Since the shutdown began back in March, SeniorAge has provided over 750,000 meals to seniors at no cost—maintaining home delivery and instituting a no-contact drive-thru program.

“Our home-delivered meal program nearly doubled in volume to serve vulnerable seniors who could not get out for groceries and food,” Jordan said. “And our telephone reassurance program saw an increase in customers who wanted a friendly phone call and wellness check. Seniors have come to trust us for guidance, information, and direction.”

SeniorAge’s telephone reassurance program exists purely for joy and wellbeing. Seniors receive a friendly phone call from a caring staff member to check on their personal well-being and to provide a kind ear just to listen and talk.

“During a time of social distancing, seniors can often feel isolated and forgotten about,” one Non-Profit Heroes nominator wrote. “The telephone reassurance program is similar to having a best friend to talk to when times are tough.”

SeniorAge staff have made over 26,000 wellness calls to local seniors, completed nearly 5,000 tax returns at no charge, distributed over 1,100 farmers market vouchers, and provided over 42,000 units of “information and assistance” to help guide seniors through these difficult times.

They also started a text and e-mail alert program to ensure safety and inform about possible COVID-related scams, created new virtual counseling and online wellness videos, and provided transportation trips through carGO to those who needed help getting to health centers.

The farmers market vouchers alone account for over $65,000 of fresh food from local farmers for seniors.

And they’ve done all of this while maintaining their full pre-pandemic staff.

“We all follow alongside our CEO Starr Kohler, who has empowered us with the confidence and resources we all need to be successful,” Jordan said. “Every employee has moved through this pandemic with compassion, courage, and an eagerness to deliver winning service at a time when so many felt alone and scared.’

“The way we operate now is a little different than six months ago, but we look forward to the day when we can safely reopen our doors to allow seniors to enjoy meals, activities, and programs among friends in one of our 36 activity centers. Until then, we will continue to do what it takes to ensure safety and security at home.”

To keep track of all of our Non-Profit Heroes, presented by American National Insurance, visit springfieldcardinals.com/heroes.

Do you want to get involved?

Volunteers are such a big part of what make all of our Non-Profit Heroes, presented by American National Insurance, so great. To get involved with SeniorAge, visit senioragemo.com/contact.

For more on what SeniorAge is doing for our region on a daily basis, follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/senioragemo.

SeniorAge is located at 1735 S. Fort Ave. in Springfield, Missouri.

Chihuahuas to Host Virtual 9-1-5K Presented by Texas Gas Service

 

EL PASO – September 15, 2020 – The El Paso Chihuahuas announced today their first virtual race, the 9-1-5K presented by Texas Gas Service. Named after El Paso’s area code “915”, registration for the virtual 5K run/walk will begin today (9/15) and conclude on September 30 and will benefit the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) relief efforts.

Registration is $30 per person with proceeds benefiting the El Paso Chihuahuas Foundation. Included in the fee is a participation tee shirt and one $9 voucher for a future Monday-Wednesday 2021 Chihuahuas game. For each entry sold, one voucher will be also donated to a frontline worker who has been helping those affected by COVID-19.

Participants will have one week to complete the 5K starting on Thursday, October 1 and ending on Thursday, October 8. Each participant may choose to walk, jog, and/or run and the 5K may take place outdoors, indoors, on a treadmill, etc. Each participant’s distance must be logged using any step app on any device (not included in the entry fee and is at participant’s own cost) and a photo of the distance must be submitted to info@epchihuahuas.com with the headline “9-1-5K Completed.”

Participants are also encouraged to take photos and tag @epchihuahuas on social media with the hashtag “#EP915K” for a chance to be featured on the respective Chihuahuas accounts.

Availability is limited and the event is expected to sell out. Fans may register HERE. Additional online fees may apply. Tee shirts will be mailed and/or available for pick up on a future date.

The El Paso Chihuahuas Foundation was established in 2014 to create a positive financial and cultural impact on families and children in the community through creative programs and events.

For more information, visit epchihuahuas.com, text (915) 533-BASE or email info@epchihuahuas.com.

Former and Current Owners of the Visalia Rawhide Baseball Club Team up to Donate $250,000 to the Visalia and Tulare County Community

 

VISALIA, CA- The former and current owners of the Visalia Rawhide have jointly contributed $250,000 to establish the Visalia Rawhide Charitable Fund at the Central Valley Community Foundation to serve the community where Visalia Rawhide fans live, work and play.

“The Visalia community provided great support over our 18 years with the Rawhide ballclub,” said Tom Seidler, former Rawhide co-owner and President of Top of the Third, Inc. “We are excited to have the opportunity to give back to the community during this time of great need, in partnership with the Rawhide and the Sigal family. I can’t think of a better way to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Rawhide championship than this effort to help many families in need through these two grants.”

To support families with childcare costs, food, distance learning supplies, and other essential services, an initial grant from the new fund of $50,000 has been donated to First 5 which supports six family resource centers, including the Visalia Family Resource Center. During the COVID pandemic, family resource centers in Tulare County are experiencing, on average, a 50% increase in the number of calls for assistance, many from families that have never sought help before.

A second $50,000 grant will help fund The Healthy Harvest Program in Tulare County. The local ag industry is essential and has continued the food production we all rely upon. This new program expands messaging to the Valley’s food production industry about coronavirus safety. It will provide access to testing, house workers who need to self-isolate and provide food and transportation to make quarantine possible. These are essential steps to stop the spread of the virus throughout the community.

“It takes all of us coming together to make a difference in this national crisis”, said Sam Sigal, current co-owner of the Rawhide and Vice President of First Pitch Entertainment, LLC. “ The Healthy Harvest Program is a partnership that brings together state, federal, industry, and philanthropic dollars.” Among the agencies that support The Healthy Harvest Program are the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Tulare County, and the Tulare Farm Bureau.

“It is an honor to team up with the Central Valley Community Foundation, The Family Resource Centers, and the Healthy Harvest Program, said Sam. “Although professional baseball is in a pause due to the pandemic, we look forward to many enjoyable seasons in the years ahead. For now, the health of the people of Visalia and the surrounding area is our focus.”

In April, at the beginning of the pandemic, the Sigal family donated over $30,000 to support Central Valley non-profits. In collaboration with the Central Valley Community Foundation, support was directed to emergency relief funds, food bank distribution efforts and local hospitals.

“The Visalia Rawhide has been an iconic presence in Tulare County by tipping its hat to the Ag industry that propels our community. And by stepping up to help financially support our Healthy Harvest program, the Community Care Coalition in Tulare County can bring much needed supportive services to our farmworkers and their families affected by COVID-19,” said Coalition Co-Chairs Rosemary Caso, Executive Director of United Way Tulare County and Francena Martinez, Division Manager, Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency. “We applaud their efforts in making sure this critical program is available to those that need it.”

For more information about the efforts of the Central Valley Community Foundation in the fight against the Coronavirus, contact Hannah McAbee ([email protected])

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The Visalia Rawhide are a professional baseball team in the Class A Advanced California League and are the only professional sports team in Tulare and Kings counties. The team has been an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2007 and will be celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Minor League Baseball in Visalia in 2021. The Rawhide look to continue their reputation for hosting competitive baseball while providing affordable family entertainment and defending the 2019 California League Championship. For more information, please contact the Visalia Rawhide Front Office at 559.732.4433, visit us online at rawhidebaseball.com, or follow us on Facebook (TheRawhide), Instagram (@VisaliaRawhide), and Twitter (@VisaliaRawhide).