One of the first hurdles for Pierce was finding youngsters to whom the items could be donated. With the help of former professional players Ed Herrmann and Mitchel Taylor, who now work with the MLB Players Alumni Association to promote baseball and raise money for charity, recipients were found in the neighborhoods of Encanto, National City, Las Palmas and Spring Valley. I would ask people who I could donate them to and everyone would tell me nobody did that. Joseph Clay, president of Encanto Little League, says his league definitely can use the equipment. We have a lot of kids from single-parent homes considered low to moderate income.
Many kids are unable to purchase catcher's gear.
An anonymous donor dropped off two large boxes of complete catcher's gear, the drive's most expensive donation. Bats and batting helmets as well as gloves and cleats were collected. She tested a couple aluminum bats as the equipment was loaded into trucks. Lopez, a shortstop, said the idea of finding new users for the equipment was a natural. It's good to help the younger guys.