(Chelsea Update would like to thank Laura Ouellette for the information in this story.)
Chelsea pickleball players recently hosted their annual Christmas fundraiser and provided donations to other local organizations and charities. The club and sport have grown tremendously this past year.
More than 50 players gathered to play their favorite game pickleball and to celebrate the holiday together.
Members provided donations to the Chelsea Education Foundation book drive. The local bookstore Serendipity facilitated this process where teachers chose selected titles for their classrooms.
The Chelsea Senior Center Pickleball Club plays weekly at the senior center gym. Friendships are born and lifelong connections are made with this sport. The senior center building is also where many of the St. Louis residents attend daily activities in the building, too. Sometimes they even play a little pickleball together with members.
Pickleball club member Julie Prince said, “I walked in St. Louis Center years ago and it changed my outlook on life. The residents that live there year-round are cared for by a lot of loving caring people and anything we can do for them to make their life easier is so much appreciated.”
The pickleball club collected donations to outfit all the 64 St. Louis residents with undergarments.
And finally, our local travel softball team Michigan Classics teamed up with the senior center club to combine money for the Magic of Christmas charity. Donations made allowed for all the presents for one of their adopted families in need. This softball team of young athletes gather each year to wrap the gifts together and then police officers deliver the gifts to the homes.
Local pickleball club ambassador Laura Ouellette said, “Our community is full of wonderful organizations and those willing to help and it is so easy to choose a good cause for the club. We figured why help just one?
“These three organizations are doing for the community all year long. Our membership is so full of generous people who not only help each other out at times but also complete strangers,” Ouellette said.
The pickleball community is incredibly supportive and friendly. Anyone interested in more information about Chelsea Senior Center activities or the pickleball club, please reach out to CSC at 734-475-9242.
