ATLANTA -- A major reason that the Atlanta Braves are representing the National League in the 2021 World Series is that general manager and president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos “restocked” the club's supply of outfielders at the Trade Deadline, bringing in Eddie Rosario -- who earned NL Championship Series MVP honors -- Jorge Soler and Joc Pederson, and bringing back Adam Duvall.

On Friday, the day the franchise prepared to host its first World Series game in 22 years, members of Major League Baseball, the Braves staff and the Atlanta Braves Foundation went to Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron New Beginnings Academy and restocked and organized the school’s pantry. They also made several other improvements to the school as part of MLB’s Fall Classic Legacy initiative. Additionally, there was an organized food distribution serving the entire Hammond Park community in Atlanta.

“The legacy of Hank Aaron, in terms of pushing forward and being your best self every day, resonates with us,” said April Brown, MLB's vice president of social responsibility. “So we were so happy to align with the Atlanta Braves Foundation to come here today to show what you’re about and show your worth in your actions. It doesn't have to be a lot of words, but it has to be the diligence and the dedication for the community and for just doing good things every day.”

“First, today means that we’re supporting our community. We’re doing a food drive for all the needy families and all the families that are in distress due to COVID and just getting back on their feet,” said the Academy's principal, Dr. Zawadaski Robinson. “Second, we want to strive for excellence. We want our students and our staff and our school to embody and embrace the life that Mr. Henry Louis ‘Hank’ Aaron left, the legacy he left us.”

There was plenty to be thankful for at Friday’s event, which followed a similar initiative by MLB and the Houston Astros at the Houston Area Women’s Center on Wednesday prior to Game 2.

Inside the 16-foot by 12-foot room now stand new and fully stocked shelves, containing everything from cereal and nutrition bars to paper towels, laundry detergent and disinfectant wipes, supplied by Home Depot and built by students and volunteers. Set against the back wall are a new refrigerator and freezer. The Academy also will have a refurbished teachers’ lounge and see a mural in tribute to Aaron.

“To be here at the Hank Aaron Academy and to meet with the students, to bring volunteers to support the school is kind of my World Series,” said Danielle Bedasse, Braves director of community affairs and executive director for the Atlanta Braves Foundation. “I’m a big believer that our schools are the heart of our community. When you come into here and park here, you can see the need and the lack of equity in our city. Our ability to really come here and be able to provide a community food market for the surrounding community was just an important piece of this.”

Local businesses also were there, with many contributing to the event, including Athena Farms, Local Green, Atlanta Influences Everything, RedDrop, Yellow Moon Media Group and the Finish First Marketing Agency. MLB sweetened the initiative, awarding the Braves a $25,000 grant as part of the Fall Classic Legacy to be used for a future project continuing community improvement.

“The whole community needs it,” said former Braves player Marquis Grissom, the center fielder who caught the final out of the 1995 World Series for Atlanta, and more recently, a fixture at community-based events representing the Braves. “That’s the beauty of it. We can connect those dots and keep moving in the same direction and keep moving that needle in the right direction. Things like this will continue to happen. We’ll continue to grow and we’ll continue to make a difference in the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta.”

Robinson believes things are already off on the right foot as far as students’ attitude since the renaming of the Academy honoring Aaron, replacing Forrest Hill Academy -- which was named for Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general and later a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

The Renaming Committee waived the usual five-year waiting period in naming a school after someone who had recently passed and unanimously approved the name.

“I have to thank Atlanta public schools and the Aaron family. Without both of their support it wouldn’t have happened,” Robinson said. “Now our students have pride, our community has pride, our students walk with an air of dignity and responsibility because they truly have embraced the legacy that [Aaron] left, and they want to continue that legacy through their actions.”

“This is part of what they’ve been doing all year to honor and recognize the memory of Hank Aaron,” Brown said. “We will be supporting them as they continue to do the hands-on work here in Atlanta.”