O's continue to provide much needed support to Sarasota

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BALTIMORE -- It’s been nearly two years since Anthony Villa, the Orioles’ director of player development, moved with his wife to Sarasota, Fla., his employer’s Spring Training home.

It hasn’t taken the 30-year-old Villa long to see how much the O’s care about that community.

“I know the club is very active in the Baltimore community,” Villa said. “But a mantra of theirs is, 'Sarasota 365,’ so even though it’s not Spring Training at the moment, it’s nice to still take care of that community as well.”

The mantra was on display again last Wednesday, when the Orioles partnered with All Faiths Food Bank to host their annual “ThankFull” turkey distribution at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. The event, which was first held in 2014, provides Thanksgiving meals to families in need.

This year, the O’s and All Faiths Food Bank handed out 910 turkeys and side dishes across multiple locations, a significant portion of which were picked up at the Orioles’ spring complex.

Villa was a first-time participant, and he came away impressed with the “efficient system.” He and other members of Baltimore’s baseball operations department went through a rotation of giving out turkeys, potatoes, apples and other side dishes, loading them into the trunks of cars that drove through in lines.

“It was very cool. To see people of various departments come out and support a good cause,” Villa said, “it was just cool to see the teamwork put together to be able to get some meals out to people and help them have a happy Thanksgiving.”

It was surely appreciated by residents of Sarasota, many of whom experienced a tough year.

In the fall, Sarasota was hit hard by both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. The community is still working to recover from the damage caused by the storms.

“If you drive down by the water, around St. Armand’s, Lido Beach, it’s just sad to see the businesses that are closed up and people piling up the debris and trying to kind of salvage their properties,” Villa said. “So every little bit [of giving back] helps, and we hope that this helps the community just enjoy the holiday.”

That’s the Orioles’ goal in both Sarasota and Baltimore -- to help people enjoy this time of year.

In addition to the turkey distribution event, the team’s Sarasota staff hosted a Thanksgiving food drive to help residents get the essential food items they need for the holiday.

In Baltimore, the O’s partnered with Giant Food to make a special donation to the students and families of the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women. The team contributed 25 gift cards and 50 pies, while also collecting more than 1,100 canned goods and other non-perishable items for the event.

The Orioles Corporate Partnerships team and employees from CareFirst volunteered at The Food Project on Nov. 19. They helped prepare meals in the kitchen at the local nonprofit, also distributing food and packing toiletry bags for those in need.

The O’s also came together with Wegmans to provide Thanksgiving meals to 50 families at Baltimore’s Harlem Park Elementary Middle School as part of their continued effort in the Adopt-A-School campaign.

“As we gather with our loved ones this Thanksgiving, the Orioles remain committed to supporting the Baltimore and Sarasota communities, especially those who need it most,” Orioles executive vice president of public affairs Kerry Watson said in a statement. “Whether it’s providing meals, volunteering our time or partnering with local organizations like Giant Food, Wegmans and CareFirst, we are proud to make a positive impact and help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the holiday season.”