Serious pickleballers can compete in a big tournament in Templeton this weekend and help raise money for senior nutrition.
Meals that Connect, the Senior Nutrition Program in San Luis Obispo County is holding “Pickles for a Purpose,” a pickleball tournament set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 9-10 at the Templeton Tennis Ranch. The event will feature pickleball clinics sponsored by Kennedy Club Fitness and, while not a sport per se, a pickle tasting contest, too.
The tournament will have some celebrities, as Morro Bay State Assemblywoman Dawn Addis, Dist. 3 County Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg and Atascadero Mayor Pro Tem Susan Funk have all entered the fray.
“I’m delighted to be part of the Pickleball Tournament supporting Meals That Connect,” Assemblywoman Addis said. “Each point scored in the competition contributes to a nutritious meal for a senior in need. The vital work of this Senior Nutrition Program not only provides sustenance but also nurtures a sense of community.”
To volunteer, to enter the tasting contest or play in the tournament, see the website at: www.mealsthatconnect.org. Registration fee includes participation, a commemorative T-shirt, and helping care for senior citizens in SLO County.
Other sponsors include QuickPickleKit.com — a do it yourself pickling kit, Winby2 Pickleball, and Mechanics Bank.
Meals that Connect provides over 200,000 nutritious meals for seniors and education on nutrition to over 1,600 seniors annually. There are eight sites scattered throughout SLO County, the Morro Bay and South Bay Community Centers included, where seniors gather to dine together, make friends and socialize.
Volunteer drivers also deliver meals to homebound seniors, the new version of the old Meals on Wheels program, which also serve as a welfare check and more, for these folks.
The Templeton Tennis Ranch is located at 345 Championship Ln.