Mt. Laurel resident Jeremy Shpigel is learning more than history, algebra and science. He is getting a chance to improve his organizational and communication skills through a collection drive he spearheaded.
At 12 years old, Jeremy picked a community service project with Pitch in for Baseball — a charity organization that collects and donates baseball equipment to “kids in impoverished communities” — as a project for his upcoming bar-mitzvah.
“It’s for my bar-mitzvah project,” Jeremy said. “Because I play baseball, I found this and thought this would be a good fit.”
According to Pitch in for Baseball’s website, the organization has a program set up for students who need to complete a project for his or her bar/bat mitzvah. The project is a way to “give back to the baseball community by sharing your love for baseball with children around the globe,” the website says.
Jeremy wanted to share his love for baseball. He started playing when he was 4 years old. But baseball isn’t the only sport he plays.
“Mom and dad are running around every season,” Jeremy’s mom, Caryn Oliver-Shpigel, jokingly said.
Jeremy also plays tennis and basketball.
“I like all sports equal. It seems like when I play one sport at one time, it seems like I like it more. It’s kind of hard to tell,” Jeremy said, adding once he starts a different sports season, he immediately enjoys playing.
Oliver-Shpigel said Jeremy was planning to start the collection in December, but other major organizations were running different programs. He didn’t want to interfere with their collections, she said.
So far, the collection has picked up momentum, Oliver-Shpigel said.
There are collection boxes in all three Mt. Laurel fire department stations, the Mt. Laurel Library, Lenape High School, and Jeremy’s synagogue, Adath Emanu-El. The collection continues through April.
Jeremy said he isn’t sure how much he collected.
“It’s hard to tell. But if you count baseballs and softballs, it’s near 50,” he said.
Jeremy is not just accepting baseballs and softballs. He said the collection is for gently used or new items of sports equipment such as bats, helmets, gloves, bases, team equipment bags, uniforms and more.
Oliver-Shpigel said she hopes the project is a success. But even if it isn’t, Jeremy is walking away with lessons he can use in the future.
“We decided early on whether it’s successful in its material collection or if it wasn’t, there is so many things he could learn from this,” she said.
Jeremy learned how to network in the community and improved his social skills as well as his organizational skills, Oliver-Shpigel said.
“There are so many skills he has learned. It’s not really just about the essence of collection or the essence of community service,” she said.
Jeremy’s bar mitzvah project ends in April. As for future projects, he said if the collection goes well, it would make it easier for him to begin another. He wants to help many other organizations.
“There are a lot of organizations out there and a lot of other stuff I am interested in,” he said
“We will see what happens after that. There is never a dull moment for Jeremy,” Oliver-Shpigel said.
For more information on Pitch in for Baseball, visit www.pitchinforbaseball.org. Collection boxes will be at the Mt. Laurel Library and other locations until April 14.
