FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The American International College baseball team's annual Home Run for the Hungry campaign was a clutch hit once again this year.
The team collected food to donate to Lorraine's Soup Kitchen in Chicopee and Square One in Springfield, and this year added in a diaper collection. The group worked hard, and collected 4,000 pounds of food and $500 worth of diapers.
"The Home Run for the Hungry is an event that we look forward to running every year. It has been great to watch it grow year in and year out," head baseball coach Nick Callini said.
The collection was a true team sport and the squad had plenty of help. The Springfield Symphony Orchestra hosted the team and took in donations over the weekend. Peter Pan Bus Lines donated a bus to bring the players and the items to the organizations.
"This year we added the Springfield Symphony Orchestra as a partner and they did not disappoint. The more partners we can add each year, the more we can blow this thing up. By far the best part about it is when we show up in our bus donated by Peter Pan. You come off that bus and watch the guys bring everything inside and just look at the smiling faces of the workers. You see the true impact you are having," Callini said.
In total, the seven years that the campaign has been active has seen a grand total of 15,900 pounds of food donated to the two organizations, making a major impact on people in need in the greater Springfield area. The project was named a finalist for the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence in 2021, having been selected as the top community service project in the Northeast-10 Conference.
Callini knows there is more still to do.
"The sad part was hearing that everything we donated would be gone in a day. I think that highlights the true need of the community. It will also drive us to make the AIC Home Run for the Hungry even bigger and better next year!" he concluded.
-Release provided by AIC athletic communications-
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 12 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
