Dee Strange-Gordon is no stranger to helping others. With Pitch In For Baseball & Softball and its partners, Strange-Gordon recently hosted a special event to inspire kids through the game of baseball.

The former National League batting champion, Gold Glove winner, and two-time All-Star teamed up with PIFBS, Wilson Sporting Goods, SafeSpace, and the Jackie Robinson Training Complex to hold a drive-through equipment event and clinic on January 30th in Vero Beach, Florida.

The drive-through portion helped provide baseball gear to 115 children, followed by a socially distanced clinic for 20 kids from Vero Beach RBI and the domestic violence shelter SafeSpace.

โ€œThe goal was just to reach kids, thatโ€™s pretty much the goal all the time,โ€ Strange-Gordon says. โ€œI think more important than giving your money, is giving your time.โ€

With help from three friends and his young nephew, Strange-Gordon handed out packs of gear provided by PIFBS and Wilson and interacted with the children as their cars passed through. The drive-through took place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., presenting kids with a backpack, plastic bat and ball set, face mask, helmet, and baseball, as well as the chance to meet the big-league veteran.

The drive-through was followed by an hour-long clinic, where Strange-Gordon taught basic baseball skills through soft toss and different stations and spent one-on-one time working with the participants.

A number of children attended through the local shelter SafeSpace, which has provided nearly half a million safe nights of shelter to more than 40,000 domestic violence survivors and children throughout the Treasure Coast area. Supporting children impacted by domestic abuse is a cause that is deeply meaningful to Strange-Gordon, who lost his mother to domestic violence when he was seven years old.

โ€œThat means so much, because that means they came from what Iโ€™m coming from,โ€ Strange-Gordon says of the chance to work with kids from SafeSpace. โ€œWe can connect on a different level.โ€

In 2015 while with the Miami Marlins, Strange-Gordon started a program called โ€œFlash of Hopeโ€ as a way to provide support and encouragement.

Through his program, Strange-Gordon invites kids to sit with him in the dugout and talk about their goals and what theyโ€™re going through. He hosts bowling events for the families and invites groups from local shelters to come out to his games.

โ€œI just wanted to give back to and inspire domestically abused kids to be something. Everybody just sometimes needs a little pick me up, and I just want to be that sometimes, be an outlet for them.

โ€œI try to level with them, try to show them that weโ€™re the same.โ€

Although the pandemic has made it nearly impossible to bring people together, Strange-Gordon says this camp with PIFBS, Wilson, SafeSpace, and the JRTC was a big step in the right direction.

With masks and social distancing, Strange-Gordon was able to safely create positivity and hope for local children through the game of baseball.

โ€œI just want to inspire them to do whatever it is that they want to do great. It doesnโ€™t have to be baseball, they can take my story and go be the best doctor ever if they want to be,โ€ Strange-Gordon says.

โ€œI just want to let them know to be inspired to do something.โ€

If you have new or gently used baseball or softball gear to donate that could help give children all over the world the chance to play ball, pleaseย schedule a drop off hereย or email us atย info@pifbs.orgย for more information.