Mavericks Hold Second Holiday Toy Drive
Dec 14, 2021 | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. – For the second straight December, Omaha Baseball has been giving back.
The Mavericks recently held a toy drive to aid families in North Omaha prior to the holidays.
Omaha coach Evan Porter and adjunct instructor Preston Love Jr., the Executive Director of 4Urban.org, came up with the idea of a toy giveaway in 2020. And, last year, the Mavericks delivered gifts to homes.
Porter wanted the drive to be bigger this time, so his group set up shop at a location in North Omaha and had the families come to them. Each of them could then pick the type of toy that they received.
In all, the baseball team collected approximately 50 toys and nearly $750 from its players and staff as well as individuals within Omaha's athletic administration and coaches from hockey, volleyball, women's soccer and softball. Porter's goal was to have at least one gift from each of his players and coaches.
"This is something that we have incorporated in the last two years, and we want to make it part of our program – where we're giving back," he said. Preston Love will be the first one to tell you, and we agree, that you become more of a whole human being when you give. That's kind of the meaning of it."
Omaha's coaching staff and a handful of players were on hand as families arrived to collect toys. In addition to helping organize the toy drive that day, the team also participated in wrapping the gifts.
"This year, we wanted to do more. And our players did a really good job. We had some really thoughtful gifts," Porter said. "We felt we could help our community. It's not far [from campus] where a lot of families can use some help with Christmas gifts. We felt like it was a good idea to get our guys involved."
The Mavericks recently held a toy drive to aid families in North Omaha prior to the holidays.
Omaha coach Evan Porter and adjunct instructor Preston Love Jr., the Executive Director of 4Urban.org, came up with the idea of a toy giveaway in 2020. And, last year, the Mavericks delivered gifts to homes.
Porter wanted the drive to be bigger this time, so his group set up shop at a location in North Omaha and had the families come to them. Each of them could then pick the type of toy that they received.
In all, the baseball team collected approximately 50 toys and nearly $750 from its players and staff as well as individuals within Omaha's athletic administration and coaches from hockey, volleyball, women's soccer and softball. Porter's goal was to have at least one gift from each of his players and coaches.
"This is something that we have incorporated in the last two years, and we want to make it part of our program – where we're giving back," he said. Preston Love will be the first one to tell you, and we agree, that you become more of a whole human being when you give. That's kind of the meaning of it."
Omaha's coaching staff and a handful of players were on hand as families arrived to collect toys. In addition to helping organize the toy drive that day, the team also participated in wrapping the gifts.
"This year, we wanted to do more. And our players did a really good job. We had some really thoughtful gifts," Porter said. "We felt we could help our community. It's not far [from campus] where a lot of families can use some help with Christmas gifts. We felt like it was a good idea to get our guys involved."
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Wednesday, August 26
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