New Sports Court opens at Naples Emergency Shelter

Three years in the making, families residing in the emergency shelter at our Naples campus, finally have a sports court. The project began with two basketball hoops that were utilized in paved parking lot areas of emergency shelter which limited the access for our kids to play. A group of  Shelter supporters and volunteers, The Jingled Elves, contributed funds to initiate the design and construction of a multipurpose sports court. More funds were soon directed to complete the project.

Why this is so important:

• During the course of a year, over 500 children and adults come to spend a significant amount of time in our emergency shelter.

• Many survivors are not able to leave the boundaries of The Shelter’s campus due to the dangerous situations they fled.

• While The Shelter provides spacious open areas for families and their pets to move about, there was limited opportunity for hearty exercise on our secure campus.

• Physical fitness, combined with The Shelter’s free wrap around services provide outlets to release the tension, stress, anxiety and depression associated with trauma experienced from domestic violence and human trafficking.

• Thankfully, the sports court enhances the quality of life for adult and child survivors by providing access to resources to heal the body as a whole and incorporate physical fitness into residents’ daily routines.

• Young boys are particularly vulnerable when coming to live at The Shelter. After witnessing violence in their homes, often at the hands of their father’s, boys and young men have limited ways of expressing their feelings. Participating in athletic activities with one of our Gentleman Advocates provides an outlet to communicate and restore faith that men can be kind.

ACTIVITIES:  The sports court is designed to play any of the following sports at a given time: Basketball, Tennis, Soccer, Shuffleboard, Pickle Ball or Volleyball. Plus, smaller games are set off to the side, including hopscotch and square-ball.

PARTNERS: Those who invested in the sports court said they wanted residents at The Shelter to have the same opportunities their children and grandchildren enjoy, including sports and interesting outdoor activities. They also believe families are brought closer together through healthy outdoor events.