Pickleballs popped around the courts at Rolfe Park as more than 100 supporters of The Friendly Kitchen gathered for a second annual fundraiser tournament.
Spearheaded by staff member and avid pickleballer Jonesy Rainville, the tournament raised around $17,000 dollars, all of which was directed towards the soup kitchen’s operations.
“The Concord community is so supportive of this tournament and The Friendly Kitchen,” Rainville said.
Rainville was grateful to see the community rally around the kitchen at last year’s inaugural pickleball fundraiser. She wasn’t able to play this year because she was busy organizing everything behind the scenes, but Rainville said she could not have been happier to stand on the sidelines.
Every penny counts when an organization serves over 80,000 meals a year.
“Every dollar we make goes right toward the kitchen, so we feel pretty lucky about that,” she said.
The Friendly Kitchen is open every day, serving lunch on weekdays, breakfast on weekends and dinner every day of the week, and distributing Family Friendly meals to low-income families, daycares and senior housing facilities.
Recently, the kitchen has expanded its reach to organizations like the Boys and Girls Club and local schools to help anyone facing food insecurity, wherever they may be, according to Beth-Ann Barrett, the chair of the board of directors.
“We’re filling the need. It’s not going away, and yet I feel very gratified that we are able to help that need,” Barrett said.
