The inaugural Volley for Veterans pickleball tournament saw 66 players sign up on Nov. 15 at the Putnam County Recreation Center for an event postponed one week due to rain.
Regardless, no one’s enthusiasm was dampened as the event, dreamed up by VFW Post 6686 Auxiliary Senior Vice President Bonnie Kallenberg, served as a fundraiser for local veterans services.
VFW Post 6686 Commander Nikki Barker, VFW Auxiliary President Marianne Bruhn-Popik, and Kallenberg provided deer meat chili, beef chili, and vegetarian chili, along with hotdogs grilled by VFW Post 6686 members John Betancourt, Joe Curran, and Randy McMichael to feed the hungry pickleballers.
Along with pickleball, several raffle items were donated by local vendors. One hundred percent of the proceeds went toward serving veterans in Eatonton and Milledgeville.
Among the items donated for the raffle were a $200 round of golf for two by The Club at Lake Sinclair (Milledgeville), a pair of 3-gallon-sized Japanese Maples from T-Bones Nursery (Milledgeville) valued at $75 each, a “priceless” ball hopper with new pickleball from the VFW Veterans Thrift Store of Eatonton, and two $50 gift cards from Serenity Spa (Milledgeville).
Additionally, Briar Patch Farm (Eatonton) donated 30 pounds of humanely treated local beef, packed and frozen in 1.5-lb amounts and valued at $235; Lake Oconee Ace Hardware (Eatonton) provided a UGA fans tailgate food serving gift set valued at $135; Lake Oconee Outfitters (Eatonton) donated a $60 three-piece gift set from Tommy Bahama that included a ball cap, grilling apron, and travel mug; Oconee Wild Watersports (Eatonton) put up a $200 pontoon boat rental; and there was an Eddie Bauer Bocce Ball Game Set valued at $90 donated, too.
Also, Certified Pickleball Instructor Donna Homick provided a 90-minute pickleball lesson for one to four players, valued at $90; there were some Buiilt by Barbie military plaques; a two-night cabin rental at Oconee Springs Cabin Rental (Eatonton), valued at $310; and a $250 Selkirk Paddle from Luxx Control Invikta.
VFW Post 6686 Auxiliary Junior Vice President and Sharon Dickens Auxiliary Treasurer/Chaplain did a VFW Auxiliary Membership and Buddy Poppy drive, with Pam Tibbitts of the Pilot Club of Eatonton and Betsy Johns volunteering to help with this event.
Finally, a special thank you goes to VFW Post 6686 Commander Barker and members helping the Auxiliary, and to the Putnam County Recreation Center for allowing the VFW Auxiliary to host Volley for Veterans there.