Pickleball Players Can Give the Gift of Food

Pickleball players are a special group of people. The social interaction our sport provides sparks a special sense of happiness, bringing us back to the courts again and again. And, as it turns out, research shows that happy people are generous people.

If you and your pickleball pals are feeling that warm sense of generosity this holiday season, consider teaming up to give one of humanity’s most basic needs: food. Here are some ways your pickleball group can help feed those who might otherwise go hungry.

Ways to Donate Food

Club Collection for a Food Bank

If your club wants to donate food, consider collecting only what you would feed to your own families. People with food insecurity are often vulnerable to nutrition-related diseases, which means that they would benefit most from healthy, nutrient-dense pantry staples.

It’s also important to call your local food bank for suggestions before you begin collecting items. While the banks will likely accept most donations graciously, it’s more helpful to give what they need the most.

Some shelf-stable suggestions include:

• Canned meats like tuna, sardines, salmon, beef, and chicken

• Low-sodium canned beans and vegetables

• Canned fruit packed in juice

• Peanut butter or other nut butters

• Dried beans, peas, and lentils

• Dried whole-grain foods like whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, plain oats, and quinoa

• Healthy snacks like whole-grain crackers, jerky, nuts, pumpkin seeds, and popcorn kernels

Some facilities can accept frozen and fresh foods as well. Good choices include frozen vegetables and fruit with no added flavorings or sweeteners, and fresh fruits and vegetables that keep the longest—like apples, oranges, sweet potatoes, and butternut and acorn squash.

Gleaning From Fruit Trees and Farm Fields

If you live in an agricultural community, this one’s for you. According to the USDA, about 30 percent of the food produced in the United States is wasted. Much of this food is lost at the farm level, simply because of cosmetic flaws. At the same time, about 17 percent of Americans struggle with food insecurity.

Gleaning is the process of gathering leftover or unwanted food from the fields, and it can be collected for people who need it. Imagine a day at the farm with your pickleball friends volunteering to help with this process. You can check with your local food bank to see if it needs volunteers for organized gleaning days.

Likewise, some individuals own trees that provide more fruit than the family can use. Your group can post signs at the local courts offering to collect the excess from homeowners when the season arrives and transport it to food banks or soup kitchens that accept fresh donations.

Assemble Meal Kits for Organizations

Does your club have a box of pickleball swag bags left over from the last tournament? Organize a non-perishable meal kit event with a local church or school. Each person in your group can sign up to contribute an assigned number of cans/packages of one ingredient from a pre-selected recipe. You can then meet up to assemble the ingredients in a swag or paper bag. Healthy recipe ideas include chili with canned or dried beans, canned chicken burrito bowls, tuna casserole, and cowboy caviar.

Ways to Give Money

While donated food is appreciated, money can go much farther. Food banks can buy in bulk and stretch each dollar, thereby feeding many more families. Monetary donations also allow the bank to buy what is needed the most rather than piece together various food items.

Hold a Moneyball Tournament

Tournaments don’t have to be fancy to raise funds. Hold a no-frills, low-entry-fee, round-robin tournament for local players with the proceeds going to the local food bank on behalf of your club. The winner gets the best prize of all: bragging rights!

Break-Your-Bad-Pickleball-Habit Jar

My own league team is taking credit for this idea. During our weekly practices, we have a collection jar by the courts. Whenever players hit a ball that was going out, they put a quarter in the jar.

The best part is that other players around us often catch on to what we’re doing and generously donate to the jar. At the end of our season, the funds will go to our local food bank.

Where to Donate

You may already have a church, soup kitchen, or food bank in mind when it comes to donating in your area. If not, it’s safer to find a legitimate place to donate by going through well-established institution websites. Feeding America and Meals on Wheels are two hunger-based charitable organizations that can direct you to local facilities from their websites.

See you on the courts, my generous pickleball friends! •

Chicken Burrito Bowl Meal Kit

By asking for multiple donations of these five items, your team can assemble shelf-stable food kits. One kit will feed a nutritious meal to a family of six. Simply put the ingredients in bags along with a copy of this recipe card.

Ingredients:

2 (12.5-oz.) cans chicken breast meat

1 (15-oz.) can black beans, drained

1 (15-oz.) can pinto beans, drained

1 (10-oz.) can mild diced tomatoes with green chilies or canned salsa

1 (6-serving) box of precooked brown rice

Directions:

Combine canned items in a medium-size pot. Heat gently over medium heat, stirring occasionally until all ingredients are steamy hot. Heat brown rice in a microwave according to package directions. Serve ingredients in large bowls over hot rice.

Optional: Add whatever toppings you have, like cheese or sour cream. Enjoy!

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Brandi Givens has been a registered dietitian since 2010, and earned a personal trainer certification in 2024. Questions can be posted to her blog at brandigivensrd.com.

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