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MOOSIC — More than 200 middle and high school-aged life skills and special education students Wednesday enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal, a visit to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders gift shop and a whole lotta fun with the team mascot, Champ.
The students were guests of guests of the SWB Pinstripes Foundation at PNC Field for the first of two holiday events for area students.
The event was held in the Geisinger Champions Club at PNC Field and students from seven area schools and districts attended: Hanover Area, Pittston Area, Lake-Lehman, GAR, West Scranton, South Scranton Intermediate and Scranton.
“We are pleased to welcome these students, their teachers and aides to PNC Field for a Thanksgiving lunch,” said Jordan Maydole, the RailRiders director of community relations. “After lunch, the children made a Thanksgiving-themed craft to prepare for the upcoming holiday and they were able to pose for pictures with our mascot, Champ. We had a great crowd and we hope the event created an impactful meaning and provided many memories along the way.”
The affable mascot went table to table, spending time with just about every student, with many taking selfies with their cellphones.
That mission was definitely accomplished, as evidenced by the smiles and laughter the moment Champ entered the room.
Each student was given a $25 gift card to use in the RailRiders team store. Students were walking out with inflatable baseball bats, hats and other souvenirs purchased with the gift cards.
“We feel it’s really important to give back to the community,” Maydole said. “And we are thrilled to be able to offer the students a fun event and a good meal.”
Amy Miller, business operations manager for the RailRiders, said the luncheon was free for the students and staff in attendance and made possible through donations to the SWB Pinstripes Foundation over the last year.
Miller said a second holiday lunch will be held on Dec. 12 for elementary and early middle school-aged children and will feature appearances by Santa Claus, and, of course, Champ.
Amy Deorio, special education teacher at Pittston Area, said the 24 sixth and eighth graders from her district looked forward to the luncheon.
“These students were here for this last year, so they knew it would be fun,” Deorio said. “They enjoy coming to see the baseball field, meeting Champ and having a delicious meal. Oh, and they really love shopping inn the team store.”
Miller said the SWB Pinstripes Foundation remains firm in the commitment to the underserved and underprivileged in the area.
“To provide these free holiday meals and to continue our outreach in the community, we rely on the generosity of our donors,” Miller said. “We are still accepting donations to support our next event and encourage those who can get involved to be a part of what we are doing here in NEPA.”
For more information on the SWB Pinstripes Foundation, contact Jordan Maydole or Amy Miller in the RailRiders front office at 570-969-BALL, or visit swbrailriders.com.
