Cape Catfish Partner with United Way of Southeast Missouri for United Way WINSdays!

Raechel Reinitz, Community Relations Manager for United Way of Southeast Missouri, and Captain Catfish celebrate their partnership with United Way WINSdays coming in June.

The Cape Catfish and United Way of Southeast Missouri (UWSEMO) have partnered to create a winning lineup for the community. Through the month of June, every Wednesday home game will be a United Way WINSday, featuring United Way partners and initiatives important to the people of Southeast Missouri.

Cindy Gannon, Assistant General Manager for the Catfish, explained, “We are excited to be partnered with United Way of Southeast Missouri for the season and into the future. The Catfish are committed to this community, and partnering with United Way enables us to ‘cast a wide net’ by helping their large network of partners.”

The United Way WINSday lineup will kick off with United Way Night on June 2nd, featuring the entire United Way network of thirty area nonprofits that support the organization’s commitment to education, income and health. Partners from many of the network organizations and programs will be at the game providing activities for kids and adults, managing a 50/50 raffle to support United Way partners and programs, and taking the field during the fifth inning stretch to launch T-shirts and other promotional items to Catfish fans. The remaining United Way WINSdays will spotlight one of United Way’s three focus areas of education, income and health—all areas that have been greatly impacted by the pandemic.

With the Coronavirus still top of mind, the focus June 9th will be health, and Catfish fans will be asked to bring hygiene items to drop in bins at the gate. United Way partners that support mental and physical health initiatives include: APPLE services for seniors, the Center for Speech & Hearing, Hope for One More Children’s Home, the Jackson Senior Center, Lutheran Family & Children’s Services, Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship, Oral Health Coalition, Safe House for Women, Southeast Alliance for Disability Independence (SADI), and Voices for Children (CASA). 

Because so many people have been financially impacted by COVID-19, the focus June 16th will be on income. Despite many food drives and pop-up pantries in the area, Elizabeth Shelton, Executive Director of UWSEMO explains food insecurity is still prevalent and will be even more so with schools closed for the summer. Catfish fans will be asked to bring ‘meals in a can’ for hungry kids and struggling families. UWSEMO partners supporting income stability include: American Red Cross, Community Partnership, First Call for Help, Habitat for Humanity, Little Whitewater Baptist Church Food Pantry, New Life Mission Inn Warming Center, One City, The Salvation Army, Scott City Ministerial Alliance, and Student Emergency Funds at area public schools and at Southeast Missouri State University. 

Batting clean-up for United Way WINSdays on June 30th will be education, another area that has been drastically impacted by the pandemic. Catfish fans will be asked to bring school supplies as UWSEMO partners in education prepare for the 2021 school year and the annual Stuff the Bus event. UWSEMO partners in education and mentoring include: 4-H of Bollinger County, Big Brothers Big Sisters + ABC Today, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Club, Meadow Heights Backpack Program, and Read to Succeed, Tiger Lilies, tutoring, and other programs at Cape Girardeau Public Schools.

More information about items to be collected and fan participation will be available closer to game dates at unitedwayofsemo.org, capecatfish.com and in both organizations’ social media pages.