SRP Park, the home stadium of the Augusta GreenJackets, opened its doors to the public on Tuesday afternoon to give community members a chance to enjoy air conditioning and no-cost food.
This comes days after Hurricane Helene’s touchdown, which resulted in widespread power outages in the CSRA.
Approximately 500 free hot dogs and sodas were available, and guests had a chance to charge their devices. Two to ten pound bags of ice were also given out to those in need.
The 1993 film “Mrs. Doubtfire” was screened on the field as well, to provide entertainment.
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GreenJackets give back to the community
“SRP Park is a community park and we are fortunate to have electricity here,” said GreenJackets Vice President Tom Delinger. “The community supports the greenjackets, so it’s our time to support them.”
Delinger said that a number of GreenJackets staff are staying at the park temporarily after their own homes experienced power outages.
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Foreign exchange student pitches in
One volunteer passing out food was Lena Winde, a foreign exchange student from Germany who has only been in the states for three weeks. The temporary John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School students said: “Staying here is such a good experience, and the community took me in here and now I have the opportunity to give something back.”
Winde found out about this volunteer opportunity because her host dad works for the GreenJackets.
Community impact
Charlena Smith said that she and her son came to SRP Park to mingle with others and eat a hot meal. “We wanted to get out…see people and feel some normalcy,” she said.
“We don’t have power or anything, and our food is basically out the window,” added the North Augusta local. “I wasn’t ready. Usually, I run to the store, get gas, water, everything…we’re still blessed…just looking to the positive now. We can’t keep looking back.”
