Baseball Shares Holiday Spirit At Children's Hospital
Dec 15, 2001 | Baseball
Dec. 15, 2001
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Members of the Tulane University baseball team shared a bit of holiday spirit Saturday morning, helping deliver toys to Children's Hospital in the 10th annual "One Toy Equals One Smile" toy drive.
Green Wave players, coaches and staff helped deliver the largest donation of toys, books and other children's items in program history to Children's Hospital, and had an opportunity to meet with some of the children and share holiday greetings.
"This is something that's great to be a part of," head coach Rick Jones said. "I feel lucky to be able to help out a great cause and bring some joy to children that maybe would have very little if it weren't for this toy drive. It's a great program, and I'm glad that our players had the opportunity to participate in it."
Members of the Tulane baseball team met on campus Saturday morning and traveled together to Heritage Bible Church on the west bank where they, along with members of church organizations, local schools and the Boy Scouts of America, helped load the delivery truck with the toys to be delivered to the hospital. From there, the team made the trek back across the river to Children's Hospital where they helped prepare the toys for distribution to the residents.
"Their help was indispensable," Alex Fisher, Jr., who founded the toy drive back in 1992, said. "Just to come out on a Saturday morning and take time out of their schedule shows their character. They were a huge help not only at the church, but also at the hospital."
The Tulane baseball team helped collect toys during the previous weeks, posting signs around campus and collecting donations from the Green Wave athletic staff as well as other students. On Saturday, the squad took their collection to Heritage Bible Church where they added their donations to those of the church for delivery at Children's Hospital.
The toy drive began 10 years ago when Fisher's mother, Ione, began donating gift baskets to the Metropolitan Development School. From there, Fisher started the toy drive, storing the donations at his house. Today, a large hall is needed to store all of the donated items.
Last year, the Children's Hospital Toy Drive required a 20-foot delivery van to bring the donated material to Children's Hospital. This year, however, a 24-foot truck was required.
The majority of the toys collected go to Children's Hospital, but the drive also donates material to St. Michael's Special School, the Magnolia School, the House of Ruth, Hope Haven, Madonna Manor and the St. Elizabeth Home.
