Collection boxes to be set at main gate of Keeter Stadium
SHELBY, NC – July 25, 2022 – Local ALWS baseball fans are accustomed to contributing
nonperishable food and hygiene items to the Neal Senior Center on opening day of The
American Legion World Series each August. This year, Atrium Health is sponsoring two
more days of food collection for two other local food distribution points. Nonperishable
food items collected on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 13 and 14, will be shared with
Washington Outreach Ministry Inc. and Mt. Calvary Baptist Church.
It has become a tradition for the Cleveland County ALWS Baseball Inc. Executive
Committee to honor senior citizens with free admission on the first day of the national
tournament each year. For 2022, that day is Aug. 11 with four games featuring all eight
regional teams, starting at 10:00 AM. Stadium gates will open at 8:00 AM.
The Neal Senior Center administration will place collection boxes on both sides of the
main entrance to Keeter Stadium. The boxes are receptacles for nonperishable food and
hygiene items that will be available at the center for needy seniors.
The pantry depends solely on donations. Adults aged 55 and older can receive pantry
items up to once a month.
The Council on Aging of Cleveland County is the county’s leading agency on aging. In
addition to the pantry, the staff at the Neal Senior Center provides blood pressure
screenings, exercise classes, and other social interaction and support.
According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates in July 2021, more than 19,000 residents of
Cleveland County are 65 and older.
“We have a consistent crowd of seniors who attend the games and support the series in
various way, including as volunteers,” says Eddie Holbrook, chairman of the local ALWS
committee. “The free admission on our longest day and the chance to help our seniors
facing food shortages are simple ways we can assist people who are very important to us.
“We have heard uplifting stories of the work by Washington Outreach Ministry Inc. and
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. They supply food to over 15,000 individuals monthly.
We applaud their assistance to the hungry in our community.”
The ALWS committee is honoring health care personnel by offering free admission for all
15 games of the 2022 series. In addition to the food collection, Atrium Health is
sponsoring Health Care Heroes Day on Sunday. Miss North Carolina USA Morgan
Romano and Miss Volunteer America Alexa Knutzen will sign autographs in the Atrium
Health Hospitality Tent and give autograph seekers an Atrium Health challenge coin.
“We cannot thank all health care workers personally for standing in the gap during the
pandemic, but we can acknowledge that we owe them a debt of gratitude for their
service,” says Holbrook.
The 2022 ALWS is scheduled for Aug. 11-16. General admission tickets are available online
or at the ALWS office weekdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM through Aug. 10. For more
information about the games and tickets, visit www.americanlegionworldseries.com or
call 704-466-3103 weekdays.
For more information about the Neal Senior Center, visit www.nealseniorcenter.org or
call 704-482-3488. For more information about Washington Outreach Ministry Inc., visit
www.washingtonoutreachministryinc.org or call 704-769-4128. For more information
about Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, visit https://mtcalvaryshelby.org or call 704-482-7713.
