American High softball star Erika Castroman is not only playing like an All-Dade player this year, but she’s batting a thousand beyond the diamond.
Last Christmas, Castroman distributed 50 backpacks filled with substances for hygiene, including deodorant, shampoo, soap, toothpaste and hand sanitizers, as well as toothbrushes, combs and face towels to the homeless people who were sleeping in the streets or under the facade of buildings in downtown Miami.
Castroman said she encountered the destitute people while visiting her uncle’s house on Christmas Day in 2015 and it broke her heart to see the displaced people lacking the necessity of life and without a roof over their heads.
Having made goody bags filled with candy, which were intended for her family for Christmas, she gave them to the homeless instead.
She decided to give the backpacks to the homeless each Christmas, which started last year.
This year, she’s hoping to distribute more than 100 backpacks to the homeless.
“In October 2016, Erika told us what she wanted to do,” said her parents, Ivette and Alex Castroman, said. “She wanted to do something special for the homeless community. But she didn’t want to give out little goody bags filled with candy, she wanted to give the homeless things they needed and that they could use. We were extremely touched and proud of her. And we were willing to support her every step of the way.”
Alex Castroman said in a short period of time, his daughter was able to promote her cause on social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and distributed flyers, asking for donations from family, friends and the business community.
Her crusade to aid the homeless was a success.
Erika Castroman reached her goal, filling 50 bags, and on Christmas morning, she, her sister, mother, father, and her cousins embarked on their journey to bring the holiday spirit to the homeless.
“It was a very humbling experience,” said the Castromans. “To see the people’s faces and expressions of gratitude, saying thank you and Merry Christmas to us which touched our hearts.”
Erika said most times, people are left displaced beyond their control.
“These people didn’t choose to be homeless,” she said. “Sometimes things just get very hard for them in life, and it meant a lot to me to be able to bring some joy to them on a very special day and to let them know people care about them.”
Erika gave kudos to the people who helped her with her homeless project and is calling for their assistance again this year.
She said the owners of Miami Lakes Sports Shop, Jim and Rosalyn Hamilton, allowed her to use their business for the location of the drop off site for donations, and the Miami Lakes Optimist Club helped her as well.
Erika has been playing softball for the Optimist Club since she was seven-years old.