TinCaps Unveil Buddy Bench at Parkview Field

The dark green bench, made from recycled milk jugs and caps, sits at Parkview Field's South Plaza near the team store entrance.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Philanthropy

A dark green park bench sits on a brick plaza in front of a plain brick wall, with dry leaves on the pavement under an open sky. — The Tin Caps unveiled a buddy bench made from recycled milk jugs and caps at Parkview Field's South Plaza in Fort Wayne on Friday, November 13, 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The TinCaps unveiled a new buddy bench at Parkview Field's South Plaza on Friday, November 13, 2026, as part of Sammie's Buddy Bench Project. The unveiling coincided with World Kindness Day.

Why it matters

The project was started to help kids not feel lonely, and it has placed hundreds of benches around Fort Wayne and across the world. The Fort Wayne addition extends that effort to a major community gathering place.

The project has run for nine years and has placed hundreds of benches around Fort Wayne and worldwide. Benches are made from recycled milk jugs and caps, with the exact number of benches not specified.

The players

Fort Wayne TinCaps

The Fort Wayne TinCaps are a minor league baseball team that plays at Parkview Field and is affiliated with the San Diego Padres.

Sammie's Buddy Bench Project

Sammie's Buddy Bench Project is a community initiative that places recycled buddy benches at schools, parks and public spaces to help reduce loneliness among children.

The details

Sammie Vance, a 17-year-old senior at Snider High School, coordinates the collection of recyclable materials that are transformed into the benches. Benches are located at almost every school in the Fort Wayne district and in parks, and a bench in Citizens Square was added in 2024 in honor of the late Mayor Tom Henry.

Nine years ago: Sammie Vance started the buddy bench project.
2024: A bench was added in Citizens Square in honor of the late Mayor Tom Henry.
Friday, November 13, 2026: The new TinCaps bench was unveiled at Parkview Field, coinciding with World Kindness Day.

Philanthropy Context

The unveiling was timed to World Kindness Day, tying a local recycled-materials bench project to an annual observance focused on kindness. The bench extends a nine-year effort that started with a single student and has grown to hundreds of installations.

Parkview Field visitors can now find the buddy bench at the South Plaza near the team store entrance. The bench gives children a designated place to sit and connect with others during games and events.

The takeaway

Community projects built from recycled materials can grow from one student's idea into hundreds of installations across a city and beyond. Residents who want to help can contribute recyclable materials to local collection efforts.