Orono, Maine – The University of Maine baseball program is launching a Baseball Glove Donation Drive titled, "Goody's Gloves." The drive will be accepting donations of new or slightly worn baseball gloves and monetary donations that will be used to purchase baseball gloves for families in the local communities. "Goody's Gloves" will run from Oct. 4 through Nov. 3.
 
Connor Goodman, a native of Miami Beach, Fla., got invested into giving back to his community when he was 10 years old. He began by assisting in the Logan Morrison Foundation named "Project LoMo", which was designed to encourage youth to create their own charitable program or event to help their community become a better place and/or support a cause that is important to them.
 
In partnership with the Logan Morrison Foundation, Goodman began his own program named "Marlins' MVP's", that allowed him to help bring 8-10 families a year out to a Miami Marlins game who had children that had lost a parent.
 
Marlins' MVP's" was founded after Connor's father passed away when he was nine-years old.

"I felt like I wanted to do something to help others with the grieving process," Goodman says. "As a kid, I was always at Marlins' games and I just loved baseball so much, I felt as though others might share the same feelings I had and anything I could do to help them through the most difficult process anyone can go through, I felt like I had to do it."
 
After three years of doing this program, Goodman went to the Marlins executives to present another idea, this one being named "Connor's Champions" and later named "Choose Gloves not Drugs", which had the goal of raising money and accepting donations of new or slightly worn gloves to supply families with new baseball gear, primarily a baseball glove.
 
"At the end of the period we set, my mom and I went to Dick's Sporting Goods and we used every penny we collected to buy as much baseball gear as we could to go towards 10-to-12-year-olds," Goodman says. "The first drive we ever did we raised north of $4,000 in total, which went towards almost 100 kids in the local area and the Boys and Girls Club of America in my city."
 
This cycle continued for all four years Goodman was in high school, only concluding because of his commitment to join the University of Maine baseball program.
 
Upon his arrival at Maine, Goodman approached Maine Baseball head coach, Nick Derba with the idea of continuing the Glove Drive in the communities around the University of Maine, to which Derba fully supported. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the glove drive had to be placed on hold due to safety reasons.
 
"Connor is as good of a person as you can meet," Derba says. "He is a kind and compassionate person that puts others at the forefront. I'm very lucky to know him and have had him as a part of our program throughout his college career."
 
Now, in 2023, "Goody's Gloves" is being founded as the University of Maine baseball program looks to find ways to give back to not only the communities surrounding the University of Maine, but to the little league and baseball communities of the State of Maine.
 
"Goody's Gloves is about the kids," Derba says. "This isn't about baseball but a chance to get everyone involved in a game that promotes being a part of a team. There are only a few things better than being a part of a team that kids get to be involved with."
 
If you are interested and/or able to support, there will be a donation box set up in the Clubhouse at Mahaney Diamond and a donation box in the Old Town Police Department. Anyone can donate a new or slightly worn glove, or leave a financial donation to help support "Goody's Gloves". The team asks that any financial donations be either in cash or check. We ask checks to be made payable to: Maineball LLC, 5745 Mahaney Clubhouse, Orono, ME, 04469 – Attached Name: Nick Derba
 
-UMaine-