Playing youth baseball can cost up to $714, a price tag many families can’t afford. Chicago Westside Sports is removing that barrier by offering kids a chance to play for free, along with a safe space to develop life skills.
"The reason I became a police officer was to effect change," said Ed Whitaker, a volunteer baseball coach with Chicago Westside Sports. "Growing up in the city of Chicago , I was able to see things that most people didn’t want to see. So now, being a police officer, it’s easier. I can manage the emotions of a younger person as it relates to sports and navigate that relationship with them.
Data from the Chicago Health Atlas shows 52% of people living in the East Garfield Park neighborhood have low access to food, meaning the closest grocery store is more than a half-mile away. This need is addressed by Meridian Health, which provides food for each child every Tuesday and Thursday at practice, and at games on Saturdays."Since we started feeding them, we don’t have any scientific data," said Marquardt.
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