Over spring break people were going all over the place. Most traveling south to warm weather. I also did the same. Me and six of my closest friends traveled to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. It was for our senior trip, getting to relax and just enjoy the weather. Swimming on the beach, going out on a boat and playing volleyball however wasn’t all we did. As us seven were growing up and getting shipped out to college soon we had less and less need for our childhood sports equipment. We decided that if it was just going to sit in our garages and attics that we want other kids to enjoy the sports.

Will Geadelmann, Matthew Dobrzynski, Matthew Oberreuter, Ben Koch, Brady Meier, Cameron Wright and I all searched our houses and finally found enough equipment to pack up 5 suitcases worth of toys and gear.  As we flew to the Dominican the suitcases flew with us. On Thursday March 16th a kind lady from Orfanato Ninos de Cristo came to our resort to meet with us. As we packed up the suitcases in her van we learned about the resort. It is located in a town called La Romana on the south side of the island. The orphanage is home to 145 girls and 25 boys. Sadly, we were told that a lot of these kids were abused in more than one way, it means a lot that we could take the time out of our spring break and help them out. The little kids enjoyed baseball and soccer the most, we also packed up some jump ropes, frisbees, basketballs and a few air pumps.

For me, it was a whole different experience, giving away my old childhood memories to people who could make even more memories with them. Growing up sports was my getaway, and to this day it still is. If I can’t use the equipment anymore I am glad that these orphans get to put them to use.  As I was talking to my friends they had very similar thoughts.

“It felt good to give to those in need. I knew they were going to get more out of it than me,” said Brady Meier.

For Matthew Dobrzynski it didn’t hit him until he saw the van filled with all the suitcases. “It was amazing just to know that all those boys and girls were getting so many different and new toys to play with.”   

When all of us first found out that we were going to have to do a “community service project” it was a kind of apathetic feeling. “I originally thought that donating would be kind of unhelpful to them and not a lot of help, but when we pooled our stuff together it just kept piling up filling up multiple suitcases. It was really cool to do something as simple as giving them sports equipment and feel as though we may have actually helped these kids find new life and have even more fun.” Said Matthew Oberreuter. Matthew and all the other guys were ecstatic to be helping out the kids in such a simple way.

Giving is one of the most important things in life, next time you go somewhere for vacation, think about reaching to a new level and just giving a little. From a first had experience, it feels amazing to see people so happy because of something you did.