Another huge food drive by the Cochrane Indoor Pickleball Association has helped to stock the shelves of the Cochrane Food Bank.
As well, their members have donated almost $800 in cash since the beginning of December.
Chair Bill Cooper says they regularly donate to the food bank and in the last three months alone filled two full bins of nonperishables.
"For a small group to donate and be as gracious as they were is mind-boggling," says Cooper. "We also had $540 in cash and today we're doing a 50-50 draw."
That raffle at their first major social event raised another $235.
What started with Cooper booking a block of time for about 50 over four years ago, has mushroomed into a group of nearly 200 pickleballers hitting the indoor courts at the SLS Centre.
MORE STORIES
- Pickleballers kick off season with food bank donation
- Indoor pickleball tourneys offered summer fun while aiding food bank
- Stepping up organized pickleball play at rec centre
Now in its fifth year, it was recently formalized into the Cochrane Indoor Pickleball Association. A survey of its members has helped to provide direction on what they want to see happen.
"People wanted to do more things," says Cooper. "they wanted to do more practice sessions, ladder sessions, tournaments, more social events, more training, and this is the start of it."
A Dec. 18 social that doubled as a launch of the society attracted over 90 of its members.
Those wanting more information on how they can become involved can visit their Facebook page here or email Cooper at cooperab@telus.net.