In April 2026, the people of Nassau County, Florida, faced hardship as wildfires swept across the area, devastating homes and more than 500 acres of land. As first responders battled the ongoing fires, putting their lives on the line for their community, the volunteers and families of Hilliard (Fla.) Little League stepped up to the plate for those working hard to keep them safe.
“The fire started on Friday evening. That night, when we had practice, my Player Agent and Treasurer, Katie Smith, noticed that the firefighters were using our park as a staging area,” said John Brown, Hilliard Little League President. “Her husband, Stephen, called me the next day and said he was going to go to the park to cook hot dogs and provide lunch for the firefighters.”
Before he left his house to join Stephen at the park the next day, Brown asked if he should buy additional dinner supplies with the fires spreading so rapidly, which they knew would require more effort and volunteers. The duo added ingredients for spaghetti dinners to their grocery lists – an easy meal to cook and feed a large group. With their list of needs in hand, Brown and Smith just needed the funds. This time, Katie came to the table with the perfect idea – a Facebook post calling for donations.
“Before we knew it, our Little League families and individuals all over Nassau County were loading us with donations,” said Brown.
Feeding the firefighters started as a two-man job, but it took the help of Little Leaguers®, their families, and local league volunteers to make it a smooth and efficient process when they arrived at the staging area. On one end, Brown and Stephen cooked, while the Hilliard Little Leaguer players and volunteers helped pass out portions and water.
“We’re in a small community where everybody knows everybody. We’ve always stepped up and taken care of each other. The way we look at it, it’s the right thing to do,” said Brown. “Community is everything; it’s an extended family. You might not see them every day, but when you need them, they’re there. You can count on them.”
Although the wildfires were causing devastation across Nassau County, the impact the firefighters had in the community unlocked a new perspective for the Little Leaguers of Hilliard LL.
“While watching the firefighters work hard for the community, I could tell that it opened a whole new understanding of what life is all about to our players,” said Brown. “Here they are, as young kids and teenagers who shouldn’t have a care in the world at this age, seeing men and women risk their lives for them. I could see how much it meant to them. New role models were being formed that day.”
Facing devastation together as a community, but more importantly coming out the other side stronger and more united, epitomizes everything Little League’s core values are about – being a part of something much bigger than oneself.
“If you can help somebody, no matter what it is, you should always do it. Whether it is helping make meals or even doing something as simple as waving hello to your neighbor or smiling,” said Brown. “You never know what a family or human is going through. Always do your best to be that outlet for someone.”
Learn more about Little League’s core value, Community, and how we live it out each and every day by visiting LittleLeague.org/WhoWeAre.