Homler Gears Up for Bar Mitzvah With Equipment Drive

Whiz Kid’s Name:  Ryan Homler

Whiz Kid’s Age: 12 years old

Whiz Kid’s School: Central Middle School

Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness: Baseball Equipment Drive

Ryan Homler, a seventh-grader at Central School, will make his Bar Mitzvah in June. In preparation for this special milestone, Ryan needed to complete an act of kindness or good deed known as a Mitzvah. As a player with the Par-Troy East Little League, he decided to parlay his love of baseball into a valuable community project by implementing the “Donations for Ryan’s Project,” a baseball equipment drive.  

Through a vast email campaign, Ryan reached out to the community seeking donations of used or new cleats, gloves, bats and other equipment.  

“Since baseball is my favorite sport, I wanted to combine my love of the sport with my project. I decided to do this project so that other kids could have the same wonderful experience playing in this league that I have had,” Ryan said in his email campaign.  

The equipment Ryan collected during practices at the end of March were cleaned up and redistributed to players during two evenings at the Par-Troy East Little League concession stand to ensure they had everything needed to start the spring season.  

According to his mom, Stacey Homler, Ryan felt really good about being able to make a difference and helping people in his own community. One mom even hugged him and thanked him, which is something he will always remember.