By: Robert Remler
Turk Wendell thanks LMS for winning Island Harvest 2000 penny drive
It's the baseball equivalent of hitting back-to-back, game-winning home runs. For the second year in a row, Lawrence Middle School students collected more for the Island Harvest Penny Drive than other area schools and, in turn, received a return visit from Mets relief pitcher and Island Harvest spokesperson Turk Wendell.
This year the middle school students raised $1,669 during the year 2000 penny drive for Island Harvest, a food rescue organization. "I salute the school, too," said Judy Bloch, director of development for Island Harvest. "If it wasn't for the teachers and the administration, this would never have happened." She also thanked Stuart Richner, publisher of the Herald Community Newspapers and Lawrence Public Schools alum. "Stuart was very instrumental in making sure that this penny drive happened," said Ms. Bloch.
How Mr. Wendell found the time to come to the Lawrence Middle School on the day of a night game, following an evening game is something that drew Ms. Bloch's attention. "But, he has committed himself as the Island Harvest spokesperson for the past two years," she said. "This is a young man who describes how he got into baseball and how he had his doubts. Now look what he does; He gives back to the community. What more powerful message could we give our children?" asked Ms. Bloch.
Raising money for charity and getting a visit from a pitcher known for enthusiasm and sliders is all part of the learning experience. "Community service is a concept in which children give back to their community," said middle school principal Dr. Mark Kavarsky. "We believe it is very appropriate for middle school children to provide a service in which they will help other children their age. We are delighted to be involved with Island Harvest. It is a simple concept in which we collect pennies which ultimately turn to charitable donations that assist other youth," said Dr. Kavarsky.
Tom Yasus, a social studies teacher, took over the coordination of the drive from former teacher John Murray. "These kids are so driven," said Mr. Yasus. "The entire experience raises the students awareness. A lot of the kids don't know there are people nearby that can't afford their own food, so I think it's a great learning experience," he said.
Mr. Murray said the original purpose of the drive, called "Penny Pals," was designed for the students to collect pennies during homeroom period. That first drive raised $1,300 and proceeds were given to St. Mary's Hospital in Bayside, Queens. Then the torch was passed to Island Harvest in 1999, said Mr. Murray.
Motivated by the chance to meet Turk Wendell, students talked about why they gave their time to raise the money. "It means that people who we look up to come to the school," said Ryan Last, 11, an Atlantic Beach resident. He said just getting the chance to shake the animated relief pitcher's hand made him feel special.
"It's important to have special people come to our school because we need to look up to them," said Jordan Kafka, 10, also of Atlantic Beach.
Student James Lanese, 11, took the Island Harvest 2000 Penny Drive very seriously. "It is special because every person in the school now looks up to us," he said.
The Mets reliever arrived in the gymnasium at the middle school promptly at 1 P.M. as promised and dressed for the occasion. Mr. Wendell wore a black Mets baseball cap, the same shirt he wears when charging to the mound from the bullpen, olive green shorts, white socks and hiking boots. The 6-feet-3-inch solidly built Massachusetts native spoke so quietly that the students had no choice but to sit in rapt attention.
"It's not about how the results come out a lot of the times," Mr. Wendell said. He told the students that the important attribute when playing baseball or taking examinations is to try their best. "If you play the best you can play, you have nothing to be ashamed about," said Mr. Wendell.
Failure enters the vernacular, according to Mr. Wendell, only when one doesn't put forth their best effort. "There have been plenty of times when I pitched and I have had my best stuff and lost," he said. "There has also been times when I didn't pitch well and won," said Mr. Wendell.
Mr. Wendell answered numerous questions from the students. He told them that he wanted to play baseball since he was three years old. "A lot of my friends told me to wake up and smell the coffee," said Mr. Wendell, who recalled obstacles he overcame en route to his professional career, which started in 1988. "But, you know what? I proved them wrong," he said.
Island Harvest is Long Island's food rescue organization, finding commercial food donors with surplus nutritious food and delivering it at no cost to agencies serving the poor throughout Long Island. The group has delivered over 15 million pounds of food in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Anyone interested in donating their time or money may call Ms. Bloch at (516) 294-8528, ext. 38.
