A ChatGPT4 / DALL·E 3 rendering of the "Field in a Box" shipping container concept, bound for the Nairobi Field of Dreams from the Port of Baltimore in early 2024.
Nairobi, Kenya & Baltimore, Md. USA - Traditionally, shipments and donations to help grow baseball and softball around the world are filled with bats and balls, gloves and gear, shoes and uniforms. In Kenya, like much of Africa, this has been happening for decades with volunteers bringing hard to get equipment in bags and coordinating large volumes of equipment donations with local coaches and groups.
These donations have been incredibly important for seeding the growth of the game across the continent. However, with equipment in hand many players don’t have dedicated spaces to play. That’s why IfWeBuildIt.org is singularly focused on building fields for dreams to come true across Africa.
As we continue to build and make great progress on building Nairobi’s first baseball and softball field complex, we’re excited to announce a game changing effort to send a shipment of specialized field maintenance equipment to the Nairobi Field of Dreams.
We’re teaming up with the non-profit organization the Oriole Advocates Charitable Foundation from Baltimore, Maryland in the United States to send a baseball “Field in a Box” shipping container from the Port of Baltimore to Mombasa, Kenya and the ultimately to Nairobi's Field of Dreams.
The Field in a Box shipping container will be filled with hard to get but essential maintenance and field equipment that will help us build and maintain the fields to be used by thousands of young players from across Kenya and Africa.
Known for their charity work to get baseball gear to teams in Baltimore and across the world through their Cardboard to Leather Program, the Oriole Advocates have committed to lead this game changing approach to international donations and help baseball grow in Kenya and across the continent. We're very thankful!
Both organizations need the help of the baseball and softball community in the US to help us fill it with additional donations, before we ship it! Find our wish list below and further down, a form so you can let us know how you want to help.
Our Wish List
Here are the field maintenance items that are most need and what we hope to put in the “Baseball Field in a Box” to be shipped in early 2024:
Portable outfield fences (314 ft & 417 ft) |  |
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We’re also collecting traditional baseball and softball gear donations:
Baseballs and softballs
Gloves
Helmets
Baseball and softball bats
Shoes, socks, cleats and uniforms (pants and jerseys)
Catcher & umpire equipment
Ball buckets
Equipment bags
Be a Game Changer: Help Us Fill the First “Field in a Box” by January 2024
We’re calling on players and teams, coaches and parents, from Little Leagues to AAU, High Schools and Colleges to Minor League and Professional organizations, to help change the game by donating and sending new and used field equipment to the Oriole Advocates warehouse in Baltimore before January 01, 2024. The shipment will set sail sometime in January or February of 2024.
Use the form below to connect with our team of volunteers in the Maryland and Virginia area to learn how the can help you get your contribution on the ship to Nairobi! They’ll assist with coordinating your donation.
Not able to donate equipment? Make a donation to our GoFundMe campaign to help with the Nairobi Field of Dreams effort.
Dwayne Cherry
Volunteer - U.S. Partnerships & Donations Coordinator
Maryland
IfWeBuildit.org
Questions? Email ifwebuilditorg@gmail.com