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Date: 11/5/2019
AGAWAM – On Nov. 9, Agawam Bowl will do what they do best- bowl. The proceeds from their Strike Out For Hunger event will help the Parish Cupboard, a local non-profit that serves the community.
Joanne Roberts, who owns Agawam Bowl with her husband, said she first got the idea for the event from her brother who lives in New Jersey.
“He attended an event like this down there, and said we should do something like it,” Roberts told Reminder Publishing. “I’ve always liked to support the Parish Cupboard in different ways over the years and it sounded like a lot of fun.”
She then reached out to the Parish, who was “all for it.” Robinson said, “It’s been a really nice partnership.”
Robinson said the vision she had for the event was an “Agawam versus Westside competition.”
The event will take place from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Included in the $20 donation that people will pay is two hours of bowling, the rental of bowling shoes, pizza, and soda. Robinson said those planning to bowl should bring socks, as they are not included with shoe rental.
Up to six people will be allowed at each lane, and the bowling alley will help place people with groups if needed.
Robinson said one perk of the event is that bowling is fun for all ages, and “it could only help the Parish.”
“It’s a fun thing. Bowling is appropriate for all ages. We have a kid’s league on Saturday, a women’s senior league,” Robinson said. “[There are] people bowling into their 80s and 90s. We have people of all ages.”
There is no specific fundraising goal, but Robinson said she’d like to have as many lanes filled as possible. “Ideally we’d love to fill all the lanes, we have 22 lanes. We’re just going to fill as many lanes as we can and donate that to the Parish.”
All 22 lanes are candlepin bowling lanes, making for what Robinson says “makes it work for different ages.” This, she said, is because candlepin bowling uses a smaller ball and gives players three tries to knock down all the pins.
While online registration and payment was due by Nov. 2, Roberts said walk-in registrations will be accepted if they have open lanes. She said people are also welcome to stop by the bowling alley and donate non-perishable food items for the pantry as well if there aren’t open lanes.
Robinson said that she didn’t get any specific food requests from the Parish, so people are welcome to donate any non-perishable food items they may have or wish to purchase. While all donations are accepted, Robinson emphasized that people who may be donated from their own cupboards be mindful of expiration dates as the Parish cannot use expired items.
All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Parish Cupboard. The non-profit provides food and meals for Agawam, Feeding Hills and West Springfield families in need.
Anyone with questions about the event can call Agawam Bowl at 786-4108 or email the bowling alley at agawambowlinfo@gmail.com.