Patriots Host HOPE Week Events

Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, hosted their HOPE Week events from August 8^th – 12^th.

At its core, HOPE Week is about people helping people. The one thing everybody has — no matter their background or financial situation — is time. By involving Yankees players and coaches at every level of the organization, the Yankees send the message that everyone can give of themselves to make their community a better place.

Equally significant during HOPE Week is garnering publicity for highlighted causes and organizations. The greatest challenge facing many not-for-profits is generating interest, awareness and funding for their missions.

Thursday, August 8^th:

Food Bank Network Of Somerset County

MGR Raul Dominguez, OF Spencer Jones, RHP Bailey Dees and OF Jared Wegner stopped by DIG in Bridgewater to prepare meals that were later donated to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County.

Despite being located in an affluent area of the state, Somerset County is still affected by residents facing food insecurity. There are 17,000 individuals living below the poverty line, many of whom cannot count on having an adequate supply of food. The mission of the Food Bank Network of Somerset County is to distribute food and provide other basic human needs to those less fortunate in our community.

Saturday, August 10^th:

Operation Shoebox New Jersey

RHP Zach Messinger, INF Tyler Hardman, OF Cole Gabrielson and OF Jared Wegner joined fans and front office members on the main concourse at TD Bank Ballpark to assemble 500 care packages of toiletries and snacks to ship to U.S. troops serving around the world.

Founded in February of 2005, Operation Shoebox New Jersey is an all-volunteer grass roots organization dedicated to collecting donated supplies and shipping care packages to U.S. troops overseas. Operation Shoebox New Jersey has shipped more than 200,000 total packages to U.S. military personnel at 800 bases in 70 countries, including those serving in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan and other posts in the Middle East.

Sunday, August 11^th:

Somerset Patriots Foundation

RHP Chase Hampton and RHP Cole Ayers took the time before Sunday’s finale against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies to read Dr. Seuss classics to young Patriots fans at the ballpark.

Hampton read Green Eggs and Ham and Ayers read One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish to over 50 members of the team’s kids club to encourage the fun of reading.

The Somerset Patriots Foundation was created to help the community that has been supportive of the team since its founding. A main focus of the foundation is education and sportsmanship.

Monday, August 12^th:

Greater Somerset County YMCA

Originally planned for Friday, August 9^th, MGR Raul Dominguez, Strength and Conditioning Coach Isiah McDonald, SS Alexander Vargas and RHP Eric Reyzelman made up a rained out event for the Greater Somerset County YMCA on Monday, August 12^th.

Patriots team members visited Franklin Township YMCA Camp SOAR at Colonial Park to spend the morning talking and playing with kids.

Camp SOAR provides a Summer of Outdoor Adventure and Recreation, offering children a robust camp experience that takes advantage of the outdoor opportunities, as well as other experiences that the Y integrates into all of its camp programs, such as STEM, literacy, arts and crafts, sports, physical activity, team-building, social-emotional learning, and character-building activities.