Sparrow's Vine Fundraiser Hits Home Run

SEELEY LAKE – Sparrow's Vine opened up the Field of Dreams fundraiser inviting the community to step up to the plate. Those that came out to play enjoyed a gourmet hot dog dinner, tested their speed in the dessert dash and bid on various auction items throughout the night. Following the seventh inning stretch, complete with popcorn, peanuts and cracker jacks, keynote speaker Cameron Reimers, former Missoula Maverick and Tronto Blue Jay player shared his story, starting with becoming a father at age 16.

Sparrow's Vine is a pregnancy resource center. Board member Jama Mauldin spoke about the tangible and intangible ways that Sparrow's Vine serves its clients. They help with everyday items and larger items as well as offer educational curriculum for parenting and life skills. The intangible ways are spiritual and emotional support and relationship-building.

"It's all about relationships and knowing that you are not alone," said Mauldin.

Reimers shared about the choices in his life that brought him closer to God.

"Despite my parents' good teaching, my knowledge of right and wrong and God's rules for my life, I proceeded to just do what I wanted to do," said Reimers who had a child at age 16. "To go home and have to have that talk [and tell my parents we were pregnant]. What was probably the worst thing was the disappointment of my parents. It was a very poor decision."

Reimers said he and the mother of his daughter were from very different backgrounds and every point turned into an argument.

"It plays into a whole plan that is not a part of what God has designed for us. You can start to see where it takes its toll. You start down that path and then consequences start to come in," said Reimers.

Reimers got out of that relationship. They set up two separate households and two sets of rules.

"I made a conscious decision to be an involved father and get after it. I did a lot of praying and it brought me real close to God," said Reimers.

Reimers stayed in school and continued to play sports. He had a support community that checked their judgment at the door and helped him.

"When you can step back from that and you have that kind of help, the dreams that you have can become more of a reality," said Reimers. "I believe that through that circumstance, God took things and put them in place and said this is the path that I have for you."

Reimers started dating his wife of nearly 20 years Breezy before graduating from high school. He was offered the only full ride scholarship to a junior college, College of Southern Idaho. Reimers started playing for them and hurt his back.

"[I asked myself] Am I going to crumble under this or am I going to keep on going?" said Reimers. He chose to keep going and pitched 17-3 for the program and was voted the male student athlete of the year for the college.

Reimers was given a full ride scholarship to play at a four-year school in Mississippi and played AAA ball. He shared stories about some of the highlights of "getting paid to play in the Sandlot" and about the people he met in the communities. But there came a time when he decided to move on from baseball, come back home and start raising a family.

"We have choices that come our way. The most important of these is time [how you spend it and who you spend it with]," said Reimers. "If you base your decision on the fact that God has control, then it brings a new light to everything."

Sparrow's Vine is located in the Bison and Bear Center in downtown Seeley Lake. They will be hiring a new executive director in the near future and welcome volunteers. For more information call 677-1900.