Brenda Weide
The PebbleCreek Pickleball Club hosted our annual Holiday Toy Drive for Goodyear children. This was our 7th year, and was bigger than ever! Martha Urbin brought her train, and Santa was there to get everyone’s Christmas wishes. Many elves came from the North Pole to help fill our train, serve breakfast, and help with pickleball games.
The club hoped to help 53 families, and we are confident that we reached or exceeded that goal, as the train was overflowing with toys. In addition to toys, we raised just short of $8,000 in cash donations. Both the toys and cash were given to the city of Goodyear, who selects families in need of additional help for the holiday—providing a decorated Christmas tree, Christmas dinner, toys, and necessities, like shoes for a child. Our hearts are full knowing PebbleCreek’s generosity helped bring joy to these families during the holiday season.
This year we had many gifts donated by local businesses to help both with toys and also to provide raffle items for our players. To help generate excitement, we gave raffle tickets through pickleball games and for donations. Thank you to Mike and Pam McWhorter, Mary Jo Wagner, and Scott Weide for their hard work! Many Visa and Kroger Grocery gift cards were also collected. These cards were given to the city to provide additional help to the families. We had a wonderful breakfast provided by Arriba restaurant. Kathy Delaney, Bill Saunders, and their elves worked effortlessly to provide everyone with a delicious breakfast. We held a split the pot to raise money and were able to raise $500. Thank you to Mary Jo Wagner and her elves for their hard work selling these tickets! Congratulations David, our winner! Deenie Clinton and her elves hosted the various pickleball competitions that were a definite hit. The courts were full, and everyone had so much fun. Andrea won a set of golf cart tires! Way to go Andrea and to all of our winners. Our main elf, Bill Saunders, provided information and fun as he DJ’d our event!
Thanks to Goodyear Fire for picking up and delivering our toys.
Special thanks to the following donors of our Toy Drive—we hope you consider supporting them: Acme Grill Cleaning, Apex Window Cleaning, Arizona Hardwood Floor, Arriba Mexican Grill, Big O Tires on Indian School Rd., BMD Printing, Bryan Cary of A Quality HVAC, Deb Smedley: Selkirk Paddle Rep, Dee & Rich Rochel: Onix Paddle Reps, Earnhardt Hyundai, Empower Nails & Spa, Estrella Pkwy Medical Center, Lazy Boy Furniture/Murph, Mary Couzens Realty, Neil’s Garage Cabinets, Rays Racquets, Richard Aldrich of Earnhardt Glass, Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies, Roy Johnson Realty, Sheri Spirek from Home Smart Realty, Starbucks on PebbleCreek Parkway, Stellar Kitchen & Bath, Superior Blinds, Thairapy Salon, Van’s Golf Shop.
Thank you to all who helped bring a better Christmas to so many children and families.