Stevens Softball hopes acts of services spreads “Hope” to those in need
HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 27, 2017) – The Stevens Institute of Technology softball team continues to spend its time off the diamond partnering with charities and local organizations to offer help to those in need.
Earlier this season, Stevens softball partnered with Sole HOPE to change lives and spread hope through a simple act of service.
Sole Hope is an organization that aims to effectively put in place preventative methods to combat diseases that enter through the feet and to create a positive physical and psychological difference in the lives of individuals in impoverished countries.
As part of its ongoing community service efforts, the team held a shoe cutting party to cut shoes out of old pairs of jeans that will be sent to Uganda and are then assembled by Ugandans who are in need of a sustainable income to help provide for their families. Sole Hope pays a fair wage for these shoes and places them on the feet of needy children after foot washing and jigger removal clinics.
Jiggers come from the tiniest of fleas and burrow into bare feet and lay eggs that over time, multiply, and destroy the soft tissue. The resulting wound is prone to infection and disease and if left untreated, can lead to paralysis, amputation, and in some cases, death.
"Participating in community service activities gives the team a chance to bond over something not softball related," head coach
Erica Mehalick said. "They get to come together and put their energy toward helping those less fortunate than themselves."
The players gathered in the Walker Gymnasium and spent an evening tracing patterns into the jeans, cutting the fabric, and organizing the new "shoe uppers" for shipment.
"The softball team knew that we had to do something about this epidemic," junior outfielder and event organizer Marissa Barnes added. "So we decided to host a shoe cutting party where we used our own jeans to cut patterns that would end up becoming toddler sized shoes. It is such a rewarding feeling to be able to use something as common as jeans, which most of us wear every day, to help children half way across the world. Every day, we get to step onto a field and play the sport we love while attending school because we are fortunate enough to have shoes on our feet, so it was the very least that we could do to help children do the same. We all had a great time bonding and helping out a good cause!
In addition to the shoe-cutting project, the team has made multiple trips to The Hoboken Shelter, an organization that aims to be a community partnership that transforms lives by providing meals for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, & services to support people to become housed. The shelter serves over 500 meals daily, provides over 1,000 showers on a weekly basis, shelters 50 people nightly and provides job and life skills training.
"Community service should be a large part of any organization because it allows the group to be apart of something bigger than themselves. Giving back to the community is extremely rewarding," junior outfielder
Cara Napolitano said. "The experience at the Hoboken Shelter was truly eye opening for all of us. Often times, the problems of college students seem like such a big deal to us, but we sometimes forget just how good we have it and take so many things for granted. By participating in efforts such as cooking at a homeless shelter, our problems are really put into perspective. Even though these people might be struggling, many of them are still maintaining such a positive and light-hearted attitude that is beautiful to witness. However, the best part about the shelter is seeing how gracious all of the attendants are for our help in making the food they look forward to everyday. Without realizing it, we are making a difference in these people's lives just by being there."
The call to serve others was made by the team's coaches and captains and the entire softball program continues to be outstanding representatives of the athletic department and of Stevens Institute of Technology.