Tennis Treats Unite Teams, Communities

BROOKLINE, MA- High school tennis season may be canceled, but one local high school junior is keeping his spirits high and bringing the tennis and local communities together. Brookline, MA resident and USTA junior tournament player, Noah Schwartz, created an organization called TennisTreatBags that unites high school tennis teams during what would be their spring season, in order to help those potentially facing serious cases of COVID-19

TennisTreatBags are goody bags created for people who are immunocompromised or at high risk of contracting the virus. 

“This started with my grandmother bored and self-quarantining, so I delivered her a treat bag with fun food and games I found around the house. Then I thought about it and wanted to send these to whoever I could,” Schwartz said. 

Schwartz is encouraging tennis teams locally and nationally to join forces and create TennisTreatBags for those in their communities. 

“I play national tournaments, so I’ve met kids from everywhere over the years. I’m trying to get the word out to whomever I can,” Schwartz said.

He created a guide of what is recommended in each bag as well as a plan of action that includes purchasing, sanitizing and delivering the goods. 

Schwartz’s ideal bag consists of bottled water, granola bars, potato chips, oranges, trail mix, Hershey Kisses, popcorn, handheld puzzle games (crosswords, sudoku, etc.) and any other items teams wish to include. 

Teams are asked to assign a captain to purchase a bulk order from a supermarket or wholesale retailer. He/she then distributes the treats to all teammates, who disinfect them, decorate their bag with their school’s logo, write an encouraging letter inside and hand-deliver them around town. 

“We’re not having a season this year and other schools are dealing with the same issue, so I wanted to organize something where high school players around the area can collaborate and bring their communities together without playing,” Schwartz said. 

Both boys’ and girls’ teams from Brookline High are currently involved, and joining the effort so far are Newton North and Newton South, with interest from neighboring towns as well as teams in Michigan, Georgia and California.