FOODFURHOOPIN' in Belding on August 8, 9!
The Belding Gus Macker has a new twist this year...a major community effort by Macker and our local church leaders to help solve one of the main concerns of our current economic woes...families without food. The Foodfurhoopin' campaign will be Macker's first attempt at a "food drive". The Belding Bible Church and other community parishes are asking players, spectators, and local citizens to bring any food items they can to donate to area families in need of food. Many people have been hit hard by the recession, with the loss of jobs, homes, and financial security. We believe that the Gus Macker Tournament can play a role in helping bring this issue to the forefront and hopefully assist those in need. Gus Macker has always been a great fundraising event for local charities, but this year we want each player and their family members to reach out to those in need. We know that Belding has been there for us over the years, now it's our turn to give back. Good competitive hoops will still be part of the Belding Macker, but let's do more...especially with the financial crisis...we can make a difference.A big Macker "high-five" goes to our local sponsor, Leppinks, the downtown grocery store that has partnered with Spartan Stores, their regional distributor, to provide a semi-trailer for collecting the food donations onsite at the tournament. They have also donated the first pallet of food to tip-off the campaign. Leppinks is a family-owned business that has been in Belding for many generations.
This will mark our 23th year for Gus Macker in Belding. Our official hometown event will be next weekend in downtown Belding, in the streets adjacent to the Central Riverside Park. Each year, multiple nonprofit, community charity groups help our national staff run the tournament operations. We in turn, donate the proceeds to there organizations. This year we have about 12 different local entities joining us for this major community event:
- City of Belding Police Reserves
- Belding Youth Rocket Football
- BHS Girls Volleyball
- BHS Boys Basketball
- BHS Girls Basketball
- Belding VFW
- BHS Bowling Team
- Project Graduation
- Belding Band
- BHS Cheerleaders
- Belding Bible Church
- The Belding Arts Council