Pastor Matt is spending September, Hunger Action Month, playing catch with a different person each day. It’s an effort to build relationships in the community and help feed neighbors facing hunger along the way.
It’s not just about giving people food. We give neighbors access to nutritious meals and other resources that help keep more money in their pockets to provide for their families in other ways. Every dollar will go directly to Gleaners to help those facing food insecurity. New this year every dollar given will be matched.
You can go to castletonumc.org/donate to learn more and give a donation to the campaign. Read below for Pastor Matt’s recap of Week 1!
Day 1
Day 1 was with my boys Zeke and Luke. We actually play catch nearly every day, but this is day 1 of the 30 days.
Day 2
On Day 2 I played catch at Foundry Field in South Bend with my friend Jim Clark. Foundry Field celebrates the baseball stories of South Bend’s marginalized communities. The murals show black ballplayers who worked in Studebaker’s foundry. Many went on to play in Negro Leagues Baseball. It also celebrates the SB Blue Sox that played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1943 to 1954. As the quote on the mural says, “A future with no hope is no future at all.” That’s why I’m playing catch every day this month. I’m raising money for Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana Inc. to help those facing food insecurity have a future with hope.
Day 3
On Day 3 I played catch in front of CUMNS Kids with the great ball player Gavin (and his buddies my boys)!
For the first time the ball crossed the road, 71st Street to be exact. No one injured, no cars hit and no windows broken, so a success in my book. And all of the near misses were from my little guy! It was a great day playing catch for Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana!
Day 4
I played with Reds fan extraordinaire David Ayers! I’m pretty sure he took it easy on me, but it was a great game of catch in the church yard!
Day 5
I played catch with my friend Trey Mullins with a little help from his fiancé Sedalia Brown!
Day 6
“Peace, love and baseball” on day 6 of 30 Days of Catch for Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana Inc. I played catch with my friend LuAnn Pelsor!
Day 7
I played a great game of catch at Oscar Charleston Park with my friend from North District IMPD Sgt. Jerome Harrison. Sgt Harrison serves the city as an officer and pastor. He’s also a good ball player!
Oscar was one of the best hitters in baseball history and was born and raised in Indy. I learned about him for the first time while in Kansas City at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Forgotten yet important local and baseball history!
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who has donated so far! On Week 1 we raised nearly $3000! Visit castletonumc.org/donate to help to fight food insecurity in Indianapolis!