Posting by Warren Smith, Case Manager, Uptown Shelter The Uptown Shelter was invited to participate in the annual NA AA Memorial Day Softball Tournament this year. This year we were given an advanced notice and Pam Neal and myself decided to use the time wisely. Trying to avoid the embarrassing performance we displayed 2 years ago, Pam Neal set up a couple of scrimmages with a local NA group at Veteran's Park while Andrew Miller provided us with our first gloves and bats. Seventeen willing clients stepped up to the plate to join the Uptown Shelter softball team. We were beaten pretty bad by the NA group but it was our first time out there in some years. The clients really enjoyed being out there that day even though their bodies paid for it the next.
Between the scrimmages, Tracy Klucina of the SACOT program brought it to our attention that there was going to be a Homeless Network Softball League between the US, Urban Ministries, Women's Shelter,St. Peter's Homes, and Homeless Helping Homeless. Each organization had to come up with their own teams. Pam And I teamed up with Tracy and the rest of her staff to prepare for the Softball league. The SACOT team agreed to provide the transportation to the park for softball practice. The was only one problem.....We didn't have a place to practice yet.
I decided to ask for a helping hand in developing this softball team. I asked Andrea Williams and Linda Miller to help us any way they can and the two of them came through for us in more ways than I could have ever imagined. Andrea was able to get UNCC to donate bags,bats, balls, and a catcher's mask and glove.She was also able to get Dick's sporting goods to give us coupon's for their equipment which Reggie Cook used to buy a left handed glove for our left handed players. Linda Miller's contributions were just as important. She was able to convince Charlotte Parks and Recreation to let us use Hornet Nest Park on Thursday and Fridays for the whole summer for free. She was also to provide us with 9 more gloves courtesy of the Uptown Shelter.
We've practiced for three weeks leading up to the tournament. My strategy was to invite any resident of the shelter who wanted to participate to come out and have the best players on the starting team and the others scrimmage the starters to fill out my bench. In total I may have had up to 35 residents come out and participate in the practices and scrimmages. We are developing a pretty decent starting team with great on field chemistry.
The tournament was played the weekend before Memorial Day. We were beaten the two games we played in the tournament. The team blames me because I wasn't there due to a prior commitment. We resumed practice last week and picked up were we left off. We picked up about four new residents who have a great chance of making the starting team.
The residents are enjoying this experience immensely. Players greet me with questions like "When is practice !"or "Who are we playing this week!" They come to my office and tell me how softball has changed some of their teammates, making them healthier and happier. I have noticed how appreciative the players are when they see how involved the staff has been with this team. I've also noticed how excited the staff has been about this experience and how willing they are to help out or give me softball tips.
We are in the process of inviting other teams to the park to scrimmage as well as looking into getting uniforms and shoes for the players as we look forward to the start of the Softball league and the NA AA July 4th Softball Tournament. With everyone's help and God's blessing hopefully we can do this every year.
Between the scrimmages, Tracy Klucina of the SACOT program brought it to our attention that there was going to be a Homeless Network Softball League between the US, Urban Ministries, Women's Shelter,St. Peter's Homes, and Homeless Helping Homeless. Each organization had to come up with their own teams. Pam And I teamed up with Tracy and the rest of her staff to prepare for the Softball league. The SACOT team agreed to provide the transportation to the park for softball practice. The was only one problem.....We didn't have a place to practice yet.
I decided to ask for a helping hand in developing this softball team. I asked Andrea Williams and Linda Miller to help us any way they can and the two of them came through for us in more ways than I could have ever imagined. Andrea was able to get UNCC to donate bags,bats, balls, and a catcher's mask and glove.She was also able to get Dick's sporting goods to give us coupon's for their equipment which Reggie Cook used to buy a left handed glove for our left handed players. Linda Miller's contributions were just as important. She was able to convince Charlotte Parks and Recreation to let us use Hornet Nest Park on Thursday and Fridays for the whole summer for free. She was also to provide us with 9 more gloves courtesy of the Uptown Shelter.
We've practiced for three weeks leading up to the tournament. My strategy was to invite any resident of the shelter who wanted to participate to come out and have the best players on the starting team and the others scrimmage the starters to fill out my bench. In total I may have had up to 35 residents come out and participate in the practices and scrimmages. We are developing a pretty decent starting team with great on field chemistry.
The tournament was played the weekend before Memorial Day. We were beaten the two games we played in the tournament. The team blames me because I wasn't there due to a prior commitment. We resumed practice last week and picked up were we left off. We picked up about four new residents who have a great chance of making the starting team.
The residents are enjoying this experience immensely. Players greet me with questions like "When is practice !"or "Who are we playing this week!" They come to my office and tell me how softball has changed some of their teammates, making them healthier and happier. I have noticed how appreciative the players are when they see how involved the staff has been with this team. I've also noticed how excited the staff has been about this experience and how willing they are to help out or give me softball tips.
We are in the process of inviting other teams to the park to scrimmage as well as looking into getting uniforms and shoes for the players as we look forward to the start of the Softball league and the NA AA July 4th Softball Tournament. With everyone's help and God's blessing hopefully we can do this every year.
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