Wayne County Varsity Baseball Team Homers for $500 to Local Shelter

Three organizations convened recently to make good on a season-long promise. Players from the Wayne County High School Varsity Baseball Team, Fair Haven Shelter and Wayne Memorial Hospital gathered to celebrate a $500 donation to Fair Haven. The hospital committed to give Fair Haven $50 for every home run the varsity baseball team hit in the season. With a grand total of 10 homeruns, the check presented tallied $500. All parties met up at the Fair Haven Community Resource Center, located at 261 South Brunswick Street, to make the gift official.


Angie Jones, the hospital’s Assistant Chief Nursing Officer and Director of Quality and Risk Management, shared, “As a former Emergency Room Director, I have seen, first hand, victims of domestic abuse (adults and children) in our facility. These patients arrive in need of medical care, due to domestic abuse, and oftentimes with just the clothes on their backs. It is vital for us to have a safe place for these folks to go to upon discharge. A place where they can rebuild their lives and establish independence. It takes resources, volunteers and organizations like Fair Haven in a community to accomplish these goals.”


Dana Mathis, Executive Director of Fair Haven, added, “While the gratification felt when assisting those fallen victim to domestic violence can be overwhelming at times, what is truly astounding is understanding that the resources and services we provide continue to be made possible through the financial support of others. We are thankful to live in a community with like-minded individuals, organizations and businesses that have a heart to serve and who support our cause to assist victims within the community that are in need.  We know that the positive difference we are making certainly couldn’t be done without building community service partnerships, such as the one that is shared with Wayne Memorial Hospital and the baseball program. It is with the utmost appreciation and humility that we accept this donation.” 


Wayne County High School’s Varsity Baseball Coach Justin McDonald said, “Thank you to Wayne Memorial Hospital and Fair Haven for allowing us to take part in this unique project and we certainly thank the players who all continually work to make this annual contribution possible. We’re honored to have been involved. A key part of our baseball program entails giving back to our community and this is one way our team can do so.”


Fair Haven is a 12-bed facility that focuses on giving victims of domestic violence a safe place to heal while providing resources to begin a new life. If you or someone you love is a victim of domestic violence, call Fair Haven at 912-588-9999. If you would like to give of your time, talents or resources, you may also contact Fair Haven at fairhavenjesup.org. The Fair Haven Market, located at 488 Southwest Broad Street in downtown Jesup, is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.