Looking for suggestions on giving away baseball equipment and school supplies in the

skelba · #1 04-05-2003, 12:36 PM

My family and I are traveling to Punta Cana April 12 - 26 staying at the Iberostar Bavaro Suiets. I will be shipping a lot of clothing, school supplies and baseball equipment. I would like to know if anyone knows of a baseball field of a mission or a church in the Higuey area where I can give the items to? The last time we were here I gave everything away when I was on the monster truck tour at the school. The tour guide was not at all pleased with me but what the hell I made a lot of kids happy. I also want to bring my baseball team to this area in 2005 to play some local 13 year old teams anyone have information on the local baseball here? Thank you for your responces in advance EARL & JULIE NEIBAUR FAMILY...

Hillbilly · #2 04-05-2003, 02:10 PM

Schools do not have teams of any sort, unfortunately. (Okey, that is 90% true,at least) So finding a good use via a school is out of the question.

I think I would check with missionary groups and their websites and see if they have missions there.

Next, when I arrive, I would go to Higuey, and find the local office of the Secretaría de Deportes, or the local Asociación de Beisbol, talk to them about what you have and arrange a time and place for your personal dispersal of these gems. This is one sure way that you will know that the items are going to be given away and used as you intended.

As for the clothes, you could probably give those away through the maids and groundskeepers at the hotel..

HB

Bugsey34 · #3 04-05-2003, 02:53 PM

Get in touch with Tom Eklund at Orphanage Outreach in Arizona, his website is www.orphanage-outreach.org and he is adding a baseball team component to his work at some orphanages in Esperanza and Monte Cristi. Its not Higuey, but I know he could find a good home for the stuff.

abe · #4 04-05-2003, 09:03 PM

Here's an established, proven charitable program based at a Canadian owned timeshare resort in Cabarete, near Puerto Plata.

If you go to www.sunsetresorts.com and check on Dominican School Friends Program, you will find info about this initiative. They can help you get things into the right hands.

Good for you.

susana · #5 04-07-2003, 12:30 PM

Hi there I am new to the board, and will be down there next week, (finally) my second trip to the north coast, but I am wondering specifically what school supplies are needed, is there anything that the older "kids" are missing out on, or things that are hard to find, or too expensive, that I can stock up on here?

Thanks, and thanks for all the entertainment over the last year

Sus

Bugsey34 · #6 04-07-2003, 04:23 PM

I think one good thing that not that many people bring are books (in Spanish of course) for kids that are of a little bit of a higher reading level. There are lots of easy books for little kids, but the kids at the school where I worked had a hard time getting their hands on harder books (6th-7th grade level), for those that really liked to read.

Beyond that, they need everything! Pencils, paper, chalk, you name it, it will be used somewhere.

CMS · #7 04-07-2003, 04:50 PM

I can set you up with former MLB player Mackey Moreno who runs youth leagues in Santo Domingo. Let me know if you are interested in playing teams in the capital.

skelba · #8 04-07-2003, 08:03 PM

This would be great our kids will all be 13 years old an I wuold of corse like to set up games during easter break of 2005. This will take a great deal of planning not to mention fundraising on our part. My main focus is going to be on helping these kids get equipment which we hope to bring along. Not to mention education supplies. I will be researching the travel arrangements but will need to make arrangements once we get their for transportation. I want to make this work for 2005 any information you can supply would be greatly appreciated... EARL

CMS · #9 04-08-2003, 09:14 AM

2005 is a ways off, but I will send you Mr. Moreno's telephone number. I would be willing to help you in any way but I don't know if I will still be living here in 2005. Keep me posted of your progress.
CMS

skelba · #10 04-08-2003, 11:03 AM

Help is help I appreciate all you can do. I never new it was going to be this difficult to to get these Items to the dominican. I have opted to take three additional duffel bags of equipment and clothing. As I stated prior I will be at the Iberostar Bavaro April 12- 26. I do have several gloves both right and left handed along with a full set of catchers equipment. I have three catchers mits and several alum bats and some cleats. Most all of the items are in good useable condition. I am also bringing along about three dozen used baseballs a few pair of baseball pants and about 8 uniform tops. I am working on the airline to let me take them for free but if I have to pay I consider it money well spent. If you or your contact know of anyone in the Heiguy who can put this to use I would sure relish the time to get it to them. Last year I gave away 3 dozen baseballs and a few gloves to the children playing a sandlot game. Just think this Idea started from my son who is 11 and wanted to make sure his extra equipment didn't go to waste. Again it just snowballed on me. Earl V. Neibaur