Donated gloves, baseballs and gifts going from Carpinteria to Cuba

CARPINTERIA, Calif. - An early Christmas is arriving for kids thousands of miles away from Carpinteria with a delivery from the Gloves for Cuba nonprofit group.

The third trip in the last few years is underway with Carpinteria resident John Parsons, joined this time by Debbie Cerino and David Chamness of Ventura.

At a recent packing party just before this week's trip, 175 gloves and balls were donated along with 25 pairs of shoes and 50 gift bags for boys and girls.

Many of the items were new and some were lightly used top quality gloves for children of all ages.

"It's all about putting smiles on the faces of kids. These children will sleep with these gloves and the girls will share their bags of gifts. It is an all around good experience," said Parsons.

The reaction on the receiving end will be photographed and put on the group's Facebook page.

"It's going to be really interesting to travel around Cuba and find little areas and small towns and go out and throw a couple of balls out in the field then the kids come out then we distribute the gloves," said Chamness.

Photos there show the kids using the gifts in some of the poorest areas of the country. In many cases it is the first baseball glove they have ever received.

Baseball is the most popular sport in Cuba.