Detroit Tigers Player Niko Goodrum Donates 275 Cases Of Water To Flint Community

The Detroit Tigers have sent utility player Niko Goodrum to the Injury List Saturday after his hematoma started bleeding.

The initial injury occurred July 10 when Goodrum fouled a pitch off his lower extremities in the seventh inning matchup against the Minnesota Twins.

 

 

Although he is down and out, some minor nicks and bruises didn’t stop the newly found tradition as the infielder/outfielder is a man of the people.

 

For the third time in the past four years, Goodrum joined forces with the Asbury United Methodist Church in Flint, Michigan, where he donated 275 cases of water to the residents who are still without clean water. 

 

Partnering with the United Way of Genesee County, the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, and the Detroit Tigers Foundation, Goodrum’s, “do GOOD things,” foundation started in June of 2020 before the pandemic shortened season as he and the league had a lot of time on their hands.

“I’ve been giving water back to Flint for two years now, dating back, this is my third year doing it,” said Goodrum to Detroit Tigers TV.

He said, “That sparked the idea of, let me get something going where people can donate to me if they want to contribute. I was getting checks from random people to the stadium. I talked to Jordan Field (Director, Player Relations & Detroit Tigers Foundation), and I was like, ‘what do I do with this money?’ and that’s how the foundation came about.

 

“When there is a need, when there is something, I can do in Detroit and Flint or back home in Georgia, whenever I see a need, I always want to give back. It is very important to me as my parents instilled in me at an early age to give back to people, and that is what we are here for, to give back to people.”

Teammate “Real Deal” Akil Baddoo was also at the giveaway, passing out clean cases of water. He chimed in on his experience and said, “this is what it’s all about. I play this game for the families like this, the unfortunate, and come out here and see the smiles on their faces and the joy we bring. That’s what it’s all about.”

The church, which serves about 300 members, gives out cases of bottled water every Tuesday since the inception of the Flint Water Crisis came into effect in 2014.

The event, which runs like your favorite fast-food chain, gives insurance that those of the community in need will have safe and clean drinking water.

 

Goodrum has proven to be more than an athlete. The people affected most will remember his humanitarian work long after his baseball career comes to an end. 

Now it’s time for Goodrum to return to the field better than he was before and help fellow MLBbros,  Baddoo and Daz Camron, make a possible playoff push down the stretch.