Game Break: Area Little Leaguers Show Compassion For Vets, Families

Several young athletes with the Renegades Baseball Program rolled up their sleeves April 23 to help veterans and their families.

The boys visited the Fisher House in Hines, IL, as a way to provide community service and give back to those who fought for the country and their loved ones.

The baseball program, based out of Des Plaines, is for boys 11-14. The program feeds from a number of neighboring towns such as Mount Prospect, Park Ridge, Glenview and Highland Park.

A key mission of the Renegades is to "develop young men that demonstrate in both word and deed that they are class athletes both on and off the field."

According to team parent Deanna Conoscenti, participating in community events gives the boys an opportunity to give back and helps give them a better understanding of the world and establish good habits for the future.

At Fisher House April 23, the boys prepared and served breakfast for families of veterans. Additionally, the boys did some heavy lifting moving outdoor furniture and cleaning up patio furniture so families staying on premise could take advantage of the sunshine and warmer weather.

The Fisher House Foundation is a network of comfort homes where veteran and military families can stay at no cost while their loved ones are receiving treatment at a VA hospital.

Fisher House runs over 70 houses across the country including the one in Hines.

The facility runs at an average occupancy rate of 94%, so the 20-room Fisher House in Hines often doesn't always have enough room to accommodate all families in need and will often rely on donated hotel reward points to provide nearby accommodations. The team at Fisher House provides warm meals as well as convenient snacks to go as families head off to spend time with their loved ones in the VA hospital on the campus.