Little Whiffles Program a Rewarding Volunteer Option

Dear Editor:

In my community, a group of students volunteer their time to play with children with a wide variety of disabilities. This organization is a Challenger League called “Little Wiffles” that is under the Norton Youth Baseball/Softball League.   On Saturday mornings   twenty- two players and thirty volunteers called ”Base Buddies” come out and play wiffle ball and kickball. Player’s ages range from four and up.

On Saturday mornings, Base Buddies come out to the baseball field at the high schools parking lot to help these children one on one.  We help strengthen their playing skills and interaction skills.  Little Wiffles gives children with a disability a chance to play a sport that they normally would not participate in.  My mom started the program of Little Wiffles and we are now into our third season.   We play in the fall and spring every Saturday mornings at nine a.m. for an hour.   With this program, volunteers have grown close to the children and consider them as friends.  Not only have the volunteers changed but the players have too.  The children have grown tremendously and have succeeded in multiple ways.  Without the volunteers and the courage of these children to come out and play we would not be the program we are today.  The volunteers have formed a bond with their player and have grown as a person, became more mature and have a greater understanding of what children go through with some type of disability.

With this program, everyone; players, coaches, Base Buddies and parents have helped make this project a success.  Just stop by one Saturday morning and you will see how much fun these children are having.  Anyone who comes and watches will be very surprised when seeing the bonds that have been formed and the skills these children have learned.  This program has greatly impacted everyone’s life.

“You will laugh and cry at the same time, if you have an open mind.”-Meg Fox

Sincerely,

Morgan Fox

Volunteering can change someone’s life, even if it’s for one hour.

Norton High School