J.J. Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt along with a few Astros step up in time of need for Houston
Houston's athletes donate to help in time of need
Mar 16, 2020, 4:35 am
J.J. Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt along with a few Astros step up in time of need for Houston
With school and work shutting down for thousands of Houstonians the Houston Food Bank received some financial help from some of Houston's biggest stars. The Food Bank will assist students who depend on free lunches, among others during the COVID-19 pandemic.
#Astros All-Star OF George Springer donating $100K to the employees at Minute Maid Park who are impacted by the cancellation of events: “These are the people that help take care of my family when I go to work. Now I want to help take care of them when they’re in a time of need.”
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 14, 2020
An incredible gesture by George Springer in the same vein as Kevin Love of the Cavaliers and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks in the NBA.
With our help, @HoustonFoodBank is assembling quarantine food kits so our students and their families don’t need to worry about their next 28 meals. Please join me in helping our community, every little bit counts! https://t.co/fr7eCRGvNP https://t.co/XpOxyeu9XU
— Alex Bregman (@ABREG_1) March 14, 2020
Alex Bregman took care of a tremendous amount of meals. As schools close down students who depend on free breakfast and lunches lose the ease of access to their meals.
I will be following @ABREG_1 lead & donating 10 k meals to the @HoustonFoodBank to help these families in need during this time!!! Houston will always come together in times of need. Please join us! @karaleighhh @LMcCullersJrFdn 🤘 https://t.co/19zvT2ObMj https://t.co/AjILtPK1Ea
— Lance McCullers Jr. (@LMcCullers43) March 15, 2020
Following the lead of his teammate Alex Bregman, Astros pitcher Lance McCullers also helped out on the food front.
Sports stars @JJWatt and @KealiaOhai made a generous donation to the Houston Food Bank so we can continue to serve our community during this time of great need. Thank you both for helping us remain a safety net for southeast Texas! https://t.co/bcQO25dVSv
— Houston Food Bank (@HoustonFoodBank) March 15, 2020
J.J. Watt and his family are no stranger to charity. Watt of course raised $37 million for Hurricane Harvey relief. He paid for the funerals of students and teachers who were slain in a school shooting.
Now Watt and his wife Kealia Ohai Watt have stepped up with a very generous donation. The Houston Food Bank explains every one dollar provides three meals. So, in theory, the donation provides over one million meals.
#Rockets CEO @tadbbrown: “We’re putting together a plan to take care of our part-time employees during their time of need.” https://t.co/OsHtlH506R
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) March 13, 2020
Many NBA teams, in the midst of their season, have started to do the same.
If you'd like to donate to the Houston Food Bank you can at this link
Jeremy Peña homered and Yordan Alvarez got his first hit this season, a tiebreaking double in the sixth inning that lifted the Houston Astros to a 2-1 win over the New York Mets on Saturday night.
Houston took two of three in a season-opening series between 2024 playoff teams.
Spencer Arrighetti (1-0) allowed just one hit, a first-inning double to Juan Soto, and one run with five strikeouts in six innings. Astros closer Josh Hader walked Soto to start the ninth before retiring the next three batters for his second save, completing the one-hitter.
The game was tied with two outs in the sixth when Alvarez knocked a double off the wall in center field to send Isaac Paredes home from first base, putting Houston on top 2-1.
Griffin Canning (0-1) gave up four hits and two runs over 5 2/3 innings in his Mets debut.
Canning had allowed just one hit on a leadoff single to Jose Altuve when Peña gave the Astros their first homer this season on his shot to the seats in left field with no outs in the fifth to make it 1-0.
Soto doubled with one out in the first and Brandon Nimmo walked with two outs. Arrighetti retired the next 13 batters before walking Jose Siri to start the sixth.
Siri stole second against his former team before advancing to third on a flyout by Francisco Lindor.
Soto then grounded out to Arrighetti and Siri dashed home, sliding in just before the tag to tie it at 1.
The Mets went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
The double by Alvarez that gave Houston the lead for good.
Canning, who spent his first five seasons with the Angels, fell to 0-4 in 10 career starts against the Astros.
Both teams are off Sunday before Houston hosts the Giants for a three-game series beginning Monday night and the Mets play at Miami that night.