PORTSMOUTH, Va. - On Saturday, Olive Branch Little League baseball gathered in Portsmouth, Virginia to give out free lunch to the community.
Today was supposed to be Opening Day for the league, but operations were suspended earlier this month in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Volunteers gave out hot dogs, bags of chips and drinks. It was treated as a drive thru as a way to maintain social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"Today was actually supposed to be our Opening Day. Ceremonies are supposed to be a big day out here and a lot of kids, we have over 240 kids in our league right now and we know that some of them could use this," Olive Branch Little League fundraiser coordinator Val Vick said. "If this goes well we've already discussed possibly doing this again in a few weeks if we're still in the same crisis that we're in right now."
The league's postponement was originally until mid-April, but soon after, Little League International recommended an extension to the delayed start by asking Little Leagues across the country to suspend activities until May 11th.
"We will continue to consult with appropriate medical advisors, government health officials and our volunteer leaders around the world, and we are committed to doing the best we can for the safety and well-being of our players, families, volunteers, and fans," Little League International shared on its website. "As this situation evolves, Little League International is committed to sharing the best guidance possible for all of our 6,500 leagues in more than 84 countries.
"It is our sincere hope that we can find ways to bring everyone back to the Little League fields this season, whether that’s later this spring or throughout the summer."
