The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels give back despite no opening day

You won’t hear the crack of the bat today. Thursday was supposed to be opening day for Fort Myers’ minor league baseball team, the Mighty Mussels, but like many things, that is now on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Marshall Kelner is the Mighty Mussels’ play-by-play broadcaster. He says the Twins gave the team the options to either go home, go with the Twins to Minnesota, or stay at the complex in Fort Myers.”

Many players packed up and left.

Kelner explained, “They don’t know exactly when they’ll be able to get back on the field, so they’re kind of taking it as if it’s the off-season preparing for spring training all over again.” But even though the game’s on hold, the Mighty Mussels are stepping up to the plate.

Bob Ohrablo, the team’s president added that “everybody needs help right now.”

This time, for Southwest Florida

Harry Chapin Food Bank President and CEO Richard LeBer said there’s a wave of layoffs and people losing their jobs, “so we’re seeing about a 40% increase in the need of food and I think we expect that’s going to continue to rise.”

LeBer says the Mussels donated more than 500 pounds of food to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. “(It’s) so much better than having it go to waste or sit in a freezer.” he added.

“We were all pumped up about getting that mighty muscle team out on the field,” Ohrablo said. “Now we just have to wait till they give us a green light.”

Baseball continues to bring our community together, to be #GulfshoreStrong, in more ways than one.