Participants from last year’s Parish Cupboard fundraiser pickleball tournament.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Parish Cupboard will be hosting its third annual pickleball FUNdariser event on Saturday, Sept. 13 at the pickleball/tennis center in Mittineague Park, 100 Churchill Rd., starting at 8:30 a.m.
The rain date, if needed, will be Sunday, Sept. 14, starting at noon.
The event is geared toward beginner to intermediate players, but all levels are welcome. Play will be a round-robin, scramble format to ensure players will have the chance to play multiple matches.
The field is limited to 32 players. Entry fee is a $40 donation per player, $20 for players 18 years old and younger.
The players will be divided into two divisions, beginner to intermediate levels will be in one division and the competitive division will be higher end intermediate to advanced players. Gold, silver and bronze medals will also be awarded.
There will also be a raffle after the pickleball tournament that all are welcomed to attend. Board member/event coordinator Chip Arnold said guests are welcome to watch the tournament and just participate in the raffle.
Arnold said this event has been beneficial for raising money for the organization. The first year they raised $8,000 and last year they raised $13,000.
All the funds go toward the Parish Cupboard’s mission of providing meals and groceries to individuals and families in need throughout West Springfield, Agawam and Feeding Hills.
Arnold said, right now, they are a full service food pantry and soup kitchen that provides hot lunches five days a week and supplemental groceries for people in need.
The funds that are raised during the pickleball tournament will help purchase food for individuals.
Arnold explained, “We are able to purchase things we need through the Food Bank, which helps. Every dollar we raise through fundraising, we get a better deal through the Food Bank than we would if we went to a grocery store and paid retail prices.”
Although the Parish Cupboard receives food through donations and food drives, Arnold said it is useful to be able to selectively order items that are needed that they can store at their food pantry.
Food insecurity rates in Western Mass. have increased over the last few years and Arnold said the organization has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people they are helping.
Arnold said, “I think the number of families and individuals coming to us for assistance has doubled in the past two years.”
Organizations like the Parish Cupboard are also on the list of places that may no longer be set to receive federal or state funding, making donations and fundraisers that much more important.
“It’s getting harder for everyday people to earn a living and to meet their budget needs. That’s where we come in. I’m telling our supporters that we’re relying all the more on our business partners and people are stepping up and they realize that,” Arnold stated.
To learn more about the organization or details about the tournament, readers can visit theparishcupboard.org.
