Southwick Recreation Center needs volunteers for The National

Kris Corey (#834), of Southwick, rips through the sand on his way to finishing 31st overall in the 450 Class at the 2025 Nationals.
Reminder Publishing file photo

SOUTHWICK — When the annual Southwick National comes to town on July 11, it brings more than just the best professional motocross riders in the world; it also brings crowds of people with cars and trucks that need parking, which the Southwick Recreation Center has and uses for its largest and only fundraiser each year.

“We need people to volunteer to help us parking the cars and trucks,” said Lisa Whitehead, who is a member of the nonprofit’s board of directors.

“We don’t turn away anyone who wants to volunteer for us for a few hours on Saturday,” Whitehead said, adding that the center, as it is every year during the Crestview Construction Inc., Southwick National at The Wick 338, is desperate for volunteers.

Those who volunteer will collect money and park cars and trucks before and during the race.

Whitehead said those interested can volunteer for a full six-hour shift, a two-hour shift or just an hour.

While many of the programs the center offers are funded through tuition and fees, such as the before- and after-school programs for students in kindergarten through sixth grade and the T-ball and kickball leagues, the fundraiser and tax-deductible donations keep the facility in tip-top shape.

“This summer, the ceilings in the classrooms are being replaced, and the building’s fire escape is being rebuilt,” she said.

There are also plans to repaint the facility, which is on Powder Mill Road, and replace the floor in the gym used for basketball and floor hockey.

“We also donate our gym to the schools for dances,” Whitehead said.

The money from last year’s fundraiser was used to purchase solar panels, which were installed in March on the center’s new roof.

“One of our biggest costs, of course, is electricity,” said Russell Fox, who is also a board member and the vice president of buildings.

Whitehead and Fox wanted to stress that the Rec Center is not a part of the town of Southwick.

“We’re a private, nonprofit and not affiliated with the town,” Whitehead said.

For those interested in making a difference for the Rec Center and gifting a few hours of time, Whitehead can be reached at 413-478-8795, or she can be emailed at tinytoe3@comcast.net.