Commerce Bank and Noah Cameron host youth baseball and softball equipment collection drive in St Joseph

ST JOSEPH, Mo (News-Press NOW) -- From baseballs and bats, to gloves and cleats, the Commerce Bank community collection drive in St Joseph was a part of the "Commerce Bank: Helping Kids Take the Field" campaign.

Brendon Clark, President of Commerce Bank in St Joseph, explained where and what you can donate.

"Any of our 42 convenient Kansas City location or three conveniently located St Joe branches. We have specially marked barrels inside our branches that people can, can bring their new or used equipment," Clark said. "We're looking for ball helmets, ball gloves, bats, cleats, pants. New or used anything that's got, a little a little bit of life left in it."

Commerce Bank's "Helping Kids Take the Field" campaign is a community collection drive that stretches from July 15 to September 30.

During the drive all 45 commerce branches in the St Joseph and Kansas City communities collect baseball and softball equipment.

All equipment collected by the three St Joseph area branches will be donated to Pony Express Baseball while the Kansas City area branches will donate to the Urban Youth Academy.

Pony Express Baseball is a non-profit youth baseball league in St Joseph that provides a place for healthy activity and training. It is dedicated to inspiring young children to become good citizens and teaches the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play.

The Urban Youth Academy offers year-round programs for children between five and 18 years old from diverse communities. Since 2018, more than 60,000 children and their families have visited the Urban Youth Academy facility in Kansas City's historic 18th and Vine District.

Clark explained the main goal behind the "Commerce Bank: Helping Kids Take the Field" campaign before the event started.

"We're just trying to break down some barriers of making sure kids have the right equipment to get involved in the sport and the opportunity to to play."

Commerce Bank has received help from Kansas City Royals players in 2015 World Series champion Alex Gordon and rookie standout and St Joseph native Noah Cameron to help with the community collection drive.

Alex Gordon kicked off the campaign on July 15 by donating equipment at a Commerce Bank branch in Kansas City, and encouraged Royals fans to give generously.

And Noah Cameron made an appearance at the Commerce Bank Ashland branch on August 14 to support the drive.

Clark talked about how vital it is to have guys like Gordon and Cameron by their side during the drives and the impact of Cameron as an ambassador for the project.

"[Noah is] a great ambassador for the city and sets a great example, I think for young kids to look up to. Setting a goal, working hard, and great things come from that," Clark said. "We couldn't be more proud to have Noah and Alex and the Royals stand beside us for this."

Noah Cameron is having a great rookie season now only behind Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz for American League Rookie of the Year. Cameron said Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha, has taken him under his wing in his rookie season.

"Wacha takes a lot of us young guys under his wing, he's just a guy you want to be around," Cameron said. "He's super talented himself, I'd love to have his career. He's a guy you lean on every day."

Cameron who was drafted by the Royals in the seventh round of the 2021 MLB entry draft, got the call in April of 2025 and has never looked back.

"People always tell me, 'well you got drafted by the Royals', you know and stuff like that. And obviously that's super cool, but obviously being able to play at Kauffman, play in front of the hometown, is super special and super just cool," Cameron said at the event. "A lot of guys don't have that."

Being able to play for his hometown team and see the hometown fans support him so much means a lot to Cameron.

"Definitely don't take it for granted. You know every day just showing up and being able to sign for people and, see kids that I give lessons to in the offseason at games and stuff like that is super cool," Cameron said.

And being able to come back to the town he grew up in and give back to them is something Noah will never forget.

"It's definitely my roots. You know I'm never going to forget growing up here, playing ball here," Cameron said. "It just means everything to me. And it's super super important just to have people, loved ones, just people supporting me everyday."

If you are still looking to donate baseball and softball equipment, the equipment collection drive is not ending until Tuesday, September 30. Donations can be made at any Commerce Bank location in the St Joseph or Kansas City area.