Big Train celebrates Roberto Clemente Day at Shirley Povich Field

Big Train player volunteers

ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Bethesda Big Train’s fourth annual Roberto Clemente Community Service Day was another big success. The team had 80 Big Train volunteers — players, interns, staff, and fans — working at six community organizations across Montgomery County.

“Baseball is our platform, but building a stronger community is our purpose,” Big Train founder Bruce Adams said. “Roberto Clemente was the personification of service to others. Big Train is proud to honor his legacy through our service.”

Volunteers worked at six community service organizations across Maryland on Saturday. The original game day was rescheduled to Wednesday due to rain, and all Big Train players sported special jerseys, wearing No. 21 in Clemente’s honor.

The team also welcomed Councilmember Gabe Albornoz and Milagro “Mily” Flores of Mujer Fuerza y Coraje as community heroes. Albornoz said he appreciates that the Big Train hosts Clemente Day each year.

“Roberto Clemente represents the best in all of us,” he said. “Tonight is extra special.”

Check out more about each organization below!

A Wider Circle

Volunteers at A Wider Circle

Based in Silver Spring, A Wider Circle is a large nonprofit organization that offers high-quality household items, professional clothing, accessories and more to those who need it. On Saturday, groups of volunteers worked to sort, carry and store various donated toys and household items for yard sales, allowing the organization to accumulate funds for the purpose of fulfilling its efforts.

“Volunteerism is so important, particularly right now, where things are so fractured,” Albornoz — who was at A Wider Circle on Saturday — said. “Being able to have an opportunity to come together is wonderful.”

“I think it teaches the volunteers what it’s like to maybe be on the other side of things and make them more appreciative and grateful for the things they have,” player volunteer Logan Ponnett (North Carolina Charlotte) said.

Button Farm

Volunteers at Button Farm

Button Farm in Germantown is a historical, educational farm that seeks to tell the story of slavery and the Underground Railroad and depict plantation life in the 1800s. Big Train staff, interns and volunteers worked to dig a hole, put up a sign, clear brush and more.

Vickie Kresse, a volunteer and Big Train fan, said she’s used to doing that type of work from growing up on a farm.

“I feel like I’ll be able to spread the word around and let people know what I found out up there,” Kresse said.

Manna Food Center

Volunteers at Manna Food Center

In Gaithersburg, volunteers sorted food for a major local food bank, led by Big Train vice president Amy Matush. Matush said the team put together 240 boxes — taped and packed with cans of food.

“I had heard about Manna, having lived here for the past 20 years,” Matush said. “It’s just an incredible organization, really.”

“[It was incredible] to go in and do the training on Friday and really see everybody in action and the kind of impact that it has on the community,” she said. “All these cans of food, boxes of food, fresh produce, fresh vegetables just get packed daily and shipped out to people in Montgomery County in need and with food insecurities.”

Rainbow Community Development Center

Volunteers at Rainbow Community Development Center

Volunteers also visited Rainbow Community Development Center in Silver Spring to reorganize toys and supplies at the warehouse. The organization provides numerous goods and services for families in need, including safety net services, job search help, financial literacy assistance, emergency shelter and food and diaper donations.

Big Train player volunteer Dylan Murphy (Florida Atlantic) said it was important to have volunteers to speed up processes at the warehouse.

“It just helps them get things done quicker so that they can help the community out faster and get more things out quicker,” Murphy said. “[Clemente Day] is good for the community as well. He was a great ballplayer and has great history, and it’s good to recognize that.”

Shepherd’s Table

Volunteers at Shepherd's Table

At Shepherd’s Table in Silver Spring, volunteers helped out in the clothing closet and kitchen. They assisted an organization that helps provide hot meals and other services to those struggling with hunger and homelessness.

Big Train broadcaster Jackson Corcoran said he saw the direct impact Shepherd’s Table is able to have for people in need.

“There was a line out the door — when I was walking in to start my volunteering — of people waiting to have the breakfast that they served there,” Corcoran said. “It’s pretty well-frequented, and I like to think that it helps out a lot of the people that need it.”

So What Else

Volunteers at So What Else

Last but not least, volunteers at So What Else in Bethesda helped to unload, distribute and pack food for the Food Rescue Bank.

Big Train player volunteer Owen Stewart (George Mason) said he did a lot of similar community service back home in New York.

“I think volunteering is the biggest part of it,” Stewart said. “You always want volunteers to come help out in the community because more and more communities get lesser and lesser in the socioeconomic aspect of things. So I think just having baseball teams or even kids — younger kids — go out there and volunteer, that’s a huge thing.”