REGINA - The Regina Dusters Baseball team is heading to Cuba in Feb. 2025 to bring items like school supplies, toothpaste and soap to give to the local Cuban baseball community to support the current humanitarian crisis in the country.
Trevor Weir, coordinator of the Regina Dusters Baseball team, said the idea started when a few players on the team competed in the Little League World Series in the U.S. last year, where they played against kids from different countries, including Cuba.
After that experience, the entire team thought the idea of playing these teams in their home country would be an amazing opportunity. So, Weir started reaching out to teams in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. The team eventually decided to play in Cuba and help out by supplying them with goods.
For the week, the Dusters plan to play multiple teams for four straight days starting in the morning. Each day, the Dusters will head to different communities and donate items.
On the last day, the Dusters will be given a tour of the schools and see what people from Cuba experience for education.
Weir said the experience will humble his players and make them realize how good these Cuban baseball players are with a lack of equipment.
He added his players may hear about the difficulties Cubans face, but when most see the state of these communities for the first time, it will make them realize how fortunate they are to live in Canada.
Weir believes it is a positive for people around the same age to interact and make a difference in each other's lives.
He also spoke highly of his 12 players and how close they are. Weir said his team is not focused on having the best players but on those with the right attitude.
It reflects the team's motto of "Be the Culture." The meaning behind it is for the team to set an example not only for their level of play but also sportsmanship, character, and attitude.
In terms of donation goals, Weir said there is no goal, but so far, they have had a few donations from a few dentists who have donated toothbrushes and toothpaste. The Dusters players have also committed to donating equipment, so potentially gloves, bats, cleats, and helmets they’ve grown out of.
The logistics of getting the donations down depends on how much the team receives. Weir admitted the organization is in the early stages of donations, so it’s hard to tell. The team may take a few hockey bags on a plane when they fly to Cuba or ship the donations by UPS.
If the trip goes well, Weir said he would love for the trip to become a yearly event, whether that be returning to Cuba or heading to a different country like Mexico or the Dominican Republic.
For those interested in donating supplies to the Dusters, the team can be reached on Weir said players will also be going out around the community and visiting local businesses who may want to chip in.
