For many, a day at the ballpark means hot dogs, home runs, and the crack of the bat. For the individuals whom Typical Life Corporation serves, it means something more: a chance to give back to their community.
Through a partnership with WellSpan Park, home of the York Revolution professional baseball team, TLC individuals dedicate time to keeping the stadium grounds clean.
Spearheaded by Tiffany Bridges, Planning and Coordination Assistant at TLC’s York Day Program, this initiative not only benefits the ballpark but provides volunteers with skill-building opportunities and the pride that results from making a difference in their community, one piece of trash at a time.
How it all began
When Tiffany considered setting up volunteerism at WellSpan Park, she carefully assessed the accessibility and safety of the tasks involved.
She wanted to ensure that individuals using wheelchairs or walkers could participate fully.
After reaching out to officials at the stadium, Tiffany and the TLC staff began bringing interested individuals to the park every Tuesday. The Revs provided garbage bags and gloves, while TLC purchased grabber tools for trash collection.
Once weekly all year-round, weather permitting, TLC brings teams of individuals to volunteer. One team cleans around the back of the park, another covers the front, while a third gathers trash near the railroad tracks that run close to the stadium.
At the end of the session, bags of trash are piled in front of the stadium for park employees to collect. As a gesture of appreciation, the York Revolution provides tickets so TLC volunteers can enjoy two free baseball games each season.
Striving to reach goals
When Tiffany and other members of the TLC staff sit down with individuals to establish their personal goals, they find that many of those objectives revolve around being out in the community.
“Activities like volunteering at WellSpan Park help develop hand and eye coordination, social skills, daily living skills, communication skills, gross-motor skills, and community integration,” Tiffany says.
The impact of the partnership extends far beyond keeping the stadium grounds clean. TLC volunteers genuinely enjoy the work. One of them, Shawn, who had been hesitant to go into the community, recently went on his first Revs volunteer outing. For months, he had watched his peers go to the stadium and come back smiling and excited about the experience.
"TLC's commitment to keeping WellSpan Park clean enhances the experience for our fans and demonstrates the power of community engagement."
With hands-on help from his Direct Support Professional, Shawn spent half an hour picking up trash, listening to instructions, and engaging with his peers. His willingness to step outside his comfort zone and engage in a community activity marked a milestone in striving for his personal goals.
“We were working on him being more social with his peers, which he has been, so now he wants to go out with his peers,” Tiffany says.
Nate Tile, Vice President of Business Development at the York Revolution, recognizes the importance of the program — not just for the ballpark, but for the volunteers themselves.
“TLC’s commitment to keeping WellSpan Park clean enhances the experience for our fans and demonstrates the power of community engagement,” Tile says. “Seeing the impact this initiative has on TLC individuals — helping them develop skills, build confidence, and take pride in their contributions — is truly inspiring. We support this partnership and look forward to continuing this meaningful collaboration.”
Developing essential skills
Volunteering at the stadium provides an excellent opportunity for TLC individuals to develop various skills, such as hand-eye coordination while using grabbers to pick up trash. The activity helps refine motor skills. Interacting with staff, peers, and stadium workers builds confidence and communication abilities while honing social skills.
Learning responsibility and teamwork contributes to gaining personal independence and developing daily living skills. Walking the stadium grounds and using tools promotes physical activity and gross-motor skill development.
While TLC individuals typically don’t interact with stadium staff during their volunteer sessions, the York Revolution team and staffers have been extremely supportive. When TLC began volunteering, a park employee walked individuals through the process, making sure they had the resources needed to succeed.
Beyond the ballpark
TLC individuals don’t volunteer only at the York Revolution’s stadium. They regularly volunteer throughout the community, including at a wellness spa, cleaning and maintaining the facility; at Richard Nixon Park, cleaning the nature center; at the Lancaster Humane Society, brushing, petting, and cuddling cats; at Meal on Wheels, assisting with food distribution; and at Mountain Creek Campground, collecting trash.
These opportunities not only build practical skills but instill a sense of independence and confidence in each participant.
While volunteering is a rewarding experience, it comes with challenges. Individuals might struggle with the fast-paced nature of certain tasks. Also, dealing with community members can be unpredictable. To prepare for these situations, TLC provides lessons on professionalism, helping individuals to navigate various environments and to not take negative reactions personally.
As TLC continues its partnership with the York Revolution, Tiffany hopes to expand its involvement.
“I hope we can volunteer more often and get indoors and volunteer during events, maybe at a concession stand,” she says. “We’d love to host our own concession stand, even if it’s just one time. That is a big goal.”
Through these efforts, TLC individuals make a difference in their community as they build skills, form friendships, and gain invaluable life experiences.