Skutt Catholic baseball players make Christmas cozy for hospitalized children

Warm hearts at V.J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School in Omaha have created warmer days and nights for patients at Children’s Nebraska.

Members of the Skutt Catholic baseball team have continued a tradition that began in 2011 of providing handmade blankets to patients at the Omaha hospital. Former SkyHawk ballplayer Matt Warren came up with the idea for the blanket-giving program, dubbed Project Home Run.

On a recent Monday, more than 25 players, from freshmen to seniors, met with former Skutt Catholic baseball and softball coach Keith Engelkamp and Skutt Catholic baseball coach Damon Day in a Skutt biology lab to prepare the blankets for delivery to Children’s.

Players took on the tasks of folding, rolling, wrapping and bagging the colorful blankets for delivery that week to Children’s. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Skutt Catholic players delivered blankets directly to patients, but these days the blankets are dropped off at the medical center.

“I think sometimes we get caught in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and it’s all about candy canes and reindeer when there’s a lot more to the holiday especially being a faith-based school,” said Day, who is in his second season at the helm of the SkyHawks baseball program.

“I think it’s a time of reflection for our young people to realize just how blessed they are and feel good about getting an opportunity to help people who are less fortunate.”

Engelkamp, a science teacher and Skutt Catholic baseball coach for 17 years and softball coach for 30 years, has seen Project Home Run grow from about 75 blankets the first year to 186 delivered this month to Children’s.

“One of our goals here at Skutt besides academics (and) athletics is also service,” said Engelkamp, who was on the original Skutt Catholic staff and retired a year ago after 31 years at the school.

“The thing that makes me happy is anything that can build camaraderie and team unity in the off-season sometimes makes them realize there’s a purpose to life besides ‘I just want to play ball.’”

Players and their parents purchase the material to make the fleece tie blankets. Each player is asked to make a minimum of three. The blankets range in three sizes from infant to teen.

This Skutt Catholic tradition is making an impact, said Nikki Walker, CCLS, of Children’s Nebraska.

“We are grateful for the Skutt baseball program’s longstanding tradition of generously supporting Children’s Nebraska patients and their families during the holidays each year,” said Walker, Children’s supervisor of Child Life, Healing Arts and Educational Support Services. “The blankets Skutt Baseball donates are distributed by our Child Life team to provide warmth and comfort, helping us improve the lives of children and families in our care.”

This year, members of Skutt Catholic’s Health Occupations Students of America chapter also participated in the blanket-making effort.

Joe Kolega, a baseball utility player, said it’s important to recognize why Skutt Catholic ballplayers take on this project every year.

“First off, it’s team bonding, but it also makes a difference for some sick kids who are in the hospital over the holidays,” the senior said. “It’s the season for giving. It’s good to do it for Christmas.”

Engelkamp said the project hit home a few years ago when a Skutt Catholic player was diagnosed with cancer and he received a blanket while a patient at Children’s.

Though the students get credit for service hours, Day said, there is something much more valuable for them to earn.

“We’re called to serve and this is a great opportunity for young people to give back to the less fortunate, to those who might not have the best of situations this holiday season,” Day said.

“I think it’s just a great opportunity for our young men to give back to the community and give back to the less fortunate this time of year.” 

READ MORE FROM THE CATHOLIC VOICE: