There is just something special about watching youth baseball while taking in the sights and smells that go with the ballpark experience.
Simply put: It's a small slice of Americana.
The Greenwood Exchange Club has been an integral part of providing life-long youth baseball memories for the last 57 years in our community. I have been a part of the club's league as a coach for the last six years and played in it as a kid in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
I understand how special it is for those kids to get their first uniform, get their first hit and score their first run. I appreciate all the hard work the club has done through the years - much of which is behind the scenes - that has provided great family fun for nearly six decades.
Here's hoping the Exchange Club can provide baseball and softball opportunities for 57 more years, but it won't be easy when you look at the rising costs of running a program for 500 kids and maintaining Stribling Park.
Due to unexpected expenses this year, the Exchange Club will be about $15,000 over its budget of about $90,000.
"We've had a bad run of luck lately as we've had to replace our tractor and mower, both of which played out after we patched them together for as long as we could. And then we had to replace a $3,000 ice machine," said Jim Campbell, who handles the finances for the club. "We've made $38,000 in improvements to the park this year, including putting the concrete floors in the dugouts."
The club gets zero assistance - financially or upkeep-wise - from the city. The Exchange Club owns the 33-acre, 10-field complex and still owes about $65,000 on the park, which opened in 2000.
That debt is scheduled to be paid off in five years.
The organization has already paid off about $500,000 in debt since the land was first purchased and the dirt work started in the late 1990s.
The bottom line is the club needs our help to make sure the youth baseball/softball program continues to thrive in these tough economic times. All donations, whether it be money, time and materials, would certainly be appreciated to help the club catch up.
Any gifts are tax deductible as the non-profit club has 501(c)(3) status.
The only money the club has flowing in comes from registration, team sponsorships, the concessions stand and annual raffle. When unexpected expenditures pop up, like they have this year, that's just not enough to stay in the black when you consider upkeep (mowing and chemicals), utilities, insurance and umpires.
Contact an Exchange Club member to see what you can do to help give the youth of our community a chance to be part of a special experience.
Monetary donations can be mailed to the club at P.O. Box 14, Greenwood, MS 38930. Every little bit helps, so all donations will be greatly appreciated and will add up quickly if we all pitch in.
• Contact Bill Burrus at bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
