New Rochelle, N.Y. - The Miracle League of Westchester is a regional branch of the larger national organization that provides a place for mentally and physically handicapped children to play baseball in a safe and fun environment. On Sunday, October 27 the Iona College Softball team volunteered as part of an event called A Very Special Halloween, a trick-or-treating alternative for kids with disabilities. Volunteers set up tables and games for kids of all ages and all ranges of disabilities to trick-or-treat. There were other activities the kids could participate in like the pumpkin patch, arts and crafts, a haunted house, contests, and a photo booth. Some of players volunteered to manage some of these stations too.
Iona Softball reserved two tables to set up three different games. They set up a ball toss (with softballs of course!) and winners received Iona spirit pom-poms, foam fingers, and stickers. They also set up a fishing game for the kids to “hook” candy. And lastly, they had a corn hole game to throw beanbags. Although the kids appreciated the candy, they just loved interacting with the team and playing the games. "It was rewarding to see the look on their faces when they made a ball in a bucket, a beanbag in the hole, or “caught” something in the fishing activity. Being able to dress up with the kids was hilarious! And by the end of the day, we had a majority of the kids representing Iona with their Iona Softball stickers displayed on their shirts. We even had a cute little girl named Samantha perform some Iona cheers for us with her new maroon and gold pom-poms," said Jordan Courage, sophomore and one of the teams SAAC representatives. Katie Jansson, a senior and also a SAAC representative said “I had so much fun volunteering with the miracle league. These kids really reminded me of how amazing life is, and even though they may have special needs, they’re really no different than you and I.”
“Spending the day with the kids was a truly humbling experience filled with big smiles and unlimited joy. I would volunteer again without a doubt” says Freshman Kelsey Long. "Even though it was an exhausting day to serve over 200 kids and their families for four hours, it was all worth it. We are looking into the possibility of helping out in the spring when their baseball program starts up, because the kids and the administrators were such a joy. Iona College Softball has a special place in their heart for the Miracle League and hopefully more memories will be made in the future!," said Courage