Big Train Community Lends a Hand on Roberto Clemente Service Day

                       Pitcher Will Clements helping to carry pallets (Esther Frances)

On Saturday, July 13th, 87 Big Train players, interns, and fans helped the Montgomery County community through six service projects for the Third Annual Roberto Clemente Community Service Day!

Giving back to the community is what Big Train is all about. Founder Bruce Adams reflected on the importance of this annual tradition at Big Train.

“In 2009, Big Train retired number 21 in honor of Roberto Clemente, and we had already retired number 42. They are two of the great barrier breakers in baseball. And I thought a few years ago, we should do more, as we want to be deeply involved with the community, so I came up with the idea for a Roberto Clemente Community Service Day.”

The service day has been a smashing hit for the Big Train, with 87 volunteers participating this year.

“Baseball is our platform, but building a stronger community is our purpose, and Clemente Day is the epitome of that,” said Adams.

Here’s a little more about each of the six service projects:

Manna Food Drive

                    Volunteers at Manna Food Drive (Sam Salem)

The Manna Food Center's mission statement is to “eliminate hunger through food distribution, education, and advocacy.”

The Big Train volunteers stocked the shelves all morning at Manna's Gaithersburg based warehouse. PA announcer Sam Salem reflected on his time serving the community.

“It means a lot. We might have just been sorting food at the center, but it meant a lot and felt really good at the end of the day to see that early on we had huge bins of food, and then at the end all the bins were empty, and I knew that all of that food is going to people who need it,” said Salem.

Shepherd’s Table

                            Volunteers at "Shepherd's Table" (Peggy Engel)

As Saturday night’s Community Hero organization, Shepherd’s Table executive director Manny Hidalgo threw out a first pitch. The nonprofit helps families around Montgomery County in need of food.

“Shepherd’s Table has been around for 41 years. We were started by about fifteen faith-based organizations that wanted to do something about people experiencing homelessness and hunger,” Hidalgo said. “We’re there to make sure that in Montgomery County, nobody gets left behind.”

Big Train shortstop Landon Franklin volunteered at the long-running food shelter on Clemente Service Day.

“I was mainly in the back in the kitchen, and helped with food prep and moving dishes,” Franklin said, “I was just happy to get the opportunity to serve the homeless and had a great time.”

Hidalgo enjoyed having the Big Train in the house helping out his nonprofit.

“I think the idea of Roberto Clemente Day, why we are wearing number 21 is because we understand that in sports, and in baseball in particular, you have to be about something bigger than the game. You have to be about the community, and you have to be about serving those in need. And I think these players understand that. They definitely demonstrated a service ethic that was impressive,” Hidalgo said.

A Wider Circle

                      Volunteers at "A Wider Circle" (Esther Frances)

Broadcast producer Jordan Parham got the opportunity to serve with A Wider Circle and reflected on his experience helping those in need.

“We built cribs and assembled them for mothers that couldn’t necessarily afford a crib for their baby,” Parham said. “It felt great to give back to the community, especially given that I found an internship community that not only helps itself but helps others as well.”

Button Farm

                            Davin Whitaker using a pickaxe (Quentin Corpuel)

Over at Button Farm in Germantown, the players and staff landscaped with historical tools. The Button Farm Living History Center is Maryland's only living history center depicting 19th century plantation life.

Left fielder Davin Whitaker discussed his time serving at the farm.

“We worked hard for the two hours we were there. We helped them a lot considering they were probably short staffed, and I feel like we did help a lot,” Whitaker said.

So What Else

                     Volunteers at "So, What Else" (Esther Frances)

The nonprofit So What Else in North Bethesda aims to “improve the lives of children and families living in underserved communities in the Baltimore-Washington Metro area by providing food security.”

Founder Bruce Adams got to work hands-on at the food drive, mentioning how much it meant to the community.

Founder and executive director Dave Silbert and the Big Train recorded a short video detailing So What Else's mission. You can watch that video here!

Interfaith Works

                     Volunteers at Interfaith Works (Patrick Chapman)

Interfaith Works is yet another nonprofit that Big Train has partnered with to “support our neighbors in need by providing vital services and a pathway to greater stability,” per their mission statement.

Pitcher Max Martzolf experienced the hands-on work of providing for the Montgomery County community working at Interfaith Works Essential Needs Center in Rockville.

“Jordan [Crossland] and I were taking all the hangers off the shelves that had to go back to the hanging section, and others were doing what they could, especially in the food pantry,” Martzolf said, “These people love to support us, why not give back to them for the two hours we were there. It felt good.”