Southwest Florida family collecting baseball gear for kids in the Dominican Republic

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — A Southwest Florida family is working to give young baseball players in the Dominican Republic something many of them don’t have: the equipment they need to play the game they love.

Antonio Dominguez and his wife started collecting donated baseball gear three years ago after seeing firsthand how passionate kids in the Dominican Republic are about the sport — even when they don’t have the basic resources to play.

Dominguez says baseball is deeply rooted in the culture there. It’s common to see kids playing in the streets, sometimes without shoes and using a broomstick as a bat.

“In the Dominican Republic, baseball is like a religion,” Dominguez said. “You can drive anywhere around the country and see kids playing in the streets with no shoes and a broomstick for a bat. It’s just the passion for the game.”

According to Dominguez, many families on the island struggle financially. He says more than 80% of people in the Dominican Republic live under the poverty line, making it difficult for young athletes to afford equipment like gloves, cleats or bats.

That’s where the community comes in.

Dominguez and his wife collect gently used baseball gear from families in Southwest Florida — including gloves, cleats, bats, helmets and other equipment. The donations are then shipped to small baseball academies in the Dominican Republic that often lack the resources larger programs have.

The goal is not only to give kids the tools they need to play, but also to give them encouragement and hope.

“This is the opportunity to help those that are in need,” Dominguez said. “Life right now is hard for a lot of people, but there’s always somebody who is worse. If you can give some hope to somebody else, those kids will be so grateful.”

The couple is currently collecting donations for their next shipment and hopes to help at least 100 kids during their upcoming trip later this month.

Anyone interested in donating baseball equipment can drop off gear at Wonderland at Pelican Preserve. Dominguez also says he is willing to pick up donations directly from people’s homes.

To donate or arrange a pickup, you can contact Antonio Dominguez at 239-634-2598.