Golf tournament to benefit local nonprofits

By Lori Berkey, Contributing Writer
06/10/2005

Region - Westborough resident Wendy Mickel feels perfectly fine about her habitual rank of "highest score" in the annual Karyn Polito Charity Golf Tournament to benefit the Westborough Food Pantry and Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services. As board treasurer of the Food Pantry, Mickel has had fun serving on the tournament organizing committee each year, helping to score high amounts of produce and perishables for Westborough's hungry citizens. Planning to also golf in the tournament again, Mickel is set to tee off with her team Monday, Aug. 15, when the fourth annual event begins with a shotgun start at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton.
   Dollars raised from tournament will be split between the two nonprofit organizations, both of which rely on fund-raising events in order to carry out their programming. While tournament slots are already full, the organizers are still seeking individual and corporate sponsorships, financial contributions and donations of raffle items to boost the event's total.
   Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services provides a range of programs regardless of a client's ability to pay. Services include individual and family counseling; case management, advocacy, violence intervention; community outreach and prevention programs; structured after-school programs; workshops; linkage with financial assistance programs; and more.
   The Westborough Food Pantry provides groceries for families and individuals in need throughout the town of Westborough. According to Ginny Lindsay, copresident of the pantry along with her husband, Harry Lindsay, the organization serves between 25 and 35 families each week. The golf tournament provides a big financial boost for the pantry, Ginny said, enabling them to procure perishable food items that they are not able to obtain from the Worcester County Food Bank and other sources.
   Mickel said she's enjoyed being a part of the pantry's board, joining more than 40 others who volunteer to help the organization carry out their services. She said she hopes the golf tournament will help people to become more aware of the Food Pantry and how much it's needed.
   "This is a wealthy community." Mickel added, "but there are people that need food, and I think people forget that."
   The Food Pantry is presently working on outreach efforts to help more people, including senior citizens and others on fixed incomes, to become aware of the nutritional aid that is available to them through the organization.
   According to Mickel, the tournament - which includes a Florida-style scramble, meals, contests, gifts and prizes - has grown each year, with increasing numbers of sponsors and donors joining the efforts to support the pantry and Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services. Since the tournament's inception, a combined total of over $50,000 has been distributed to the organizations.
   To sign on as a golf tournament sponsor, to donate raffle items, or for more details about the event, call Ron Bertelli at (508) 798-3070 or Dick Thomas at (508) 797-6892. Thomas is also accessible by e-mail at rthomas@bankatcommerce.com. For more information about Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, call (508) 845-6932 or visit www. Shrewsburyyfs.org. For more information on the Westborough Food Pantry, call Ginny or Harry at (508) 366-2509.
Editor's note: Are you planning to spend part of your summer volunteering or performing a community service? Do you alreaday volunteer somewhere? If so, we'd love to hear about what you are doing. Send an e-mail with a short description of your volunteer work to word@townisp.com and we may contact you to write a story about your contributions.es.

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