BLUE HENS' BASEBALL BOOSTS NEWARK COMMUNITY WITH CHRISTMAS BASKET PROJECT
NEWARK, Del. (Jan. 6, 2011) - The holiday break
is a time of great need for many families throughout the Tri-State area, and
the University of Delaware baseball team took time to give back to the
community as they worked with the Newark County Welfare Committee as they
hosted their annual Christmas Basket Program on December 16-18.
In conjunction with the Delaware School for the Deaf, Blue Hens Pat Dameron,
Steve Ulaky, Corey Crispell, Eric Young, Jimmy Yezzo, Kyle Kirsch and assistant
coach Mike Ranson, packed, loaded and distributed 336 food baskets during the
three-day service.
"It was a wonderful opportunity to give back to the Newark community,"
Coach Ranson said. "Our players spent the afternoon loading cases of canned
foods and unloading them at the wellness center along with students from the
Delaware School for the Deaf. Every little bit helps when it comes to
lending a hand, and our student athletes enjoyed the experience."
According to Newark Area Welfare Committee's website, in 1930 people in Newark
faced hard times. One woman saw the daily struggle taking place in the lives of
a neighborhood family and resolved to help them. From her own meager resources,
she gathered food, sharing with and supporting the family until they got on
their feet again. When she decided to stock extra food in her garage so she'd
be prepared to help others as the need arose, she founded a tradition of caring
known today as the Newark Area Welfare Committee.
The Christmas Basket Program helps put together and give away hundreds of large
boxes of food to local families in need. Generous neighbors share food, time,
abilities, equipment and facilities to make a successful community project feed
approximately 1,500 people each year.