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BRONXVILLE, N.Y. There was plenty of joy in Bronxville Thursday at the first annual charity softball game between staff and faculty from Iona and Concordia colleges.
Concordia College Dean Sherry Fraser was in right field and Iona College English Professor Aaron Rosenfeld made an amazing catch in center field but grounded out at bat.
The real winners in the game will be the Eastchester Community Action Program located on Main Street in Tuckahoe. Each player, about 20 on each team, donated $20 to play in the game held on the softball field across the street from Concordia College on the Tuckahoe-Bronxville line. All of the money will be donated to the community action program
Charlene Lambrecht, the programs director, said she had 17 names of local residents on her list who were requesting a visit to the food bank.
"We are grateful that ECAP will benefit from this event," Lambrecht said. "With cuts in our funding and an increase in need in our community we are truly grateful for this support. Every little bit helps."
Lambrecht said her organization served 433 clients and 348 households in March. Although there is a clothing closet to shop in and services such as a fax machine and a copier that can be used for free, many people come because they are having trouble feeding their families.
"I would say half of everyone that comes in needs to visit the pantry," Lambrecht said.
That need is exactly this reason Concordia College Assistant Registrar Kathleen Hymes put the softball game together.
"Our mission is to be a part of our community," she said. "This is our community and we want to give back."
Hymes said she wanted the donations to go a grassroots organization as opposed to a larger, national charity.
"We know the money is needed here and will be used here, and that was important to us," she said.
Hymes gave high marks to her counterpart Roseanne Cerniglia of Iona College.
"It took us only about three weeks to organize this, she said. Iona College enthusiastically responded right away and everyone has pitched in.
The Eastchester program is always in need of donations, Lambrecht added. The foods needed most are canned tuna, salmon or chicken, cereals or oatmeal, canned soups, stews or chili, pasta, rice and juice in boxes, plastic or cans.
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