Several wives of the LA Dodgers have committed to participating in monthly outreach projects along with the Dream Center, a volunteer-drive organization that provides charity work for over 80,000 people on a monthly basis.
Over Mother's Day weekend, a dozen of the wives gave food, clothing, and supplies to low-income mothers living near the Dodger's baseball stadium, according to MLB.com.
"We are forever grateful for this partnership with the Dodgers. They are just not coming out to hand out a bag of food, they are coming out to invest into the needs of the community," said Pastor Matthew Barnett, co-founder of The Dream Center.
Ellen Kershaw, wife of Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, reportedly wanted to give back to the community, and encouraged other wives to join her in partnering with the Dream Center.
Last month, the Kershaws distributing groceries to nearly 200 families in a Los Angeles neighborhood, alongside her husband and 30 season ticket holders who also helped. They also helped the Dream Center with their food truck outreach project, which distributes food at different elementary school sites to families who earn less than $15,000 a year.
"Clayton and I believe that it's not only baseball players that have a platform and can make a difference but we all can in one way or another so Clayton and I really want to get fans involved and get us all out into the community and let us all make a difference together," Kershaw said, according to mlb.com.
Heather Howell wife of Dodgers pitcher JP Howell, also joined in an outreach recently by running the L.A. Marathon with The Dream Center to raise awareness and money for human trafficking.
Other outreach events in which the wives will participate include GED training, foster care intervention and participating in The Dream Center's Back To School Bash in August for underprivileged children.
Other events planned for this year include Adopt A Block in May; GED Tutoring/Project Prevention in June; His Hands Extended clothing distribution in July; Back to School supply distribution in August; Serve24, serving food on Skid Row.
The Dodger players will also join their wives for the next Dream Center outreach on Father's Day weekend.
According to the organization's website, other services and programs offered include a residential rehabilitation program for adults, a transitional shelter for homeless families, and mobile medical and hunger relief programs.
