CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Cornhole Club hosted a benefit cornhole tournament Saturday to raise funds for Victim Services of Cullman, the local nonprofit that provides crisis prevention and recovery programs for families impacted by domestic violence and survivors of sexual assault.
The club had 48 people registered to play. Many players were regulars in the competitive division, but there were a few newcomers who visited to play in the social division and raise money for the cause.
The club does several benefit tournaments a year. It is currently booked until May of next year, as many are discovering the ease with which the tournaments can help raise funds.
Member Heather Gilliland shared, “We formed our club in 2019. We really got started on charity tournaments in 2020 because this is one of the things that you could do and be socially distanced.”
Club Co-Founder Robert Haddix said players are always courteous, especially when working together for a cause. “You could be winning pretty good and the guy that’s losing would be like, ‘Great shot!’ You don’t hold it against them. Everybody is supportive. That’s what’s good about it, and it allows people of any age to play.”
The youngest player at the event was 7, while the oldest 75.
“I just turned 40 and I got beat the other night by a 12 year old and I’ve been playing for three years,” laughed Haddix. “Anybody can do this.”
Gwen Parker of Victim Services spoke about the event, saying, “Several of my friends had been to tournaments they had done before and recommended them. When I talked to Robert, he said they would actually put it on and run it from beginning to end for us, and they helped us with advertising. They recruited players. They provided all the cornhole boards and the score-keeping materials. All we had to do was set up our raffles and our concession stand; they did the rest. We are very appreciative of them for doing that.”
The Cullman County Cornhole Club reserves Saturdays for fundraiser events, and league play blind draw-type games are played Tuesdays. The club hosts Tuesday night events at The Refuge Church on U.S. Highway 278 East, which gives players a chance to compete weekly and helps raise money for the church ministry. Anyone is welcome to join the club at any time by showing up or visiting the group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/380015529612330/.
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