Food-sal: getting a kick out of fundraising

Beluga Nights, Donald Tramps, and Girls Rule Boyz Drool were just some of the teams that competed for a good cause last weekend at the University of Alberta.

The tenth annual Powerplay Cup occurred in the Butterdome on Saturday, March 19. With 11 teams competing, 200 participants played futsal in the Pavilion throughout the day, in a tournament that raises money for the campus food bank.

Last year’s tournament raised more than $3,000 for the Campus Food Bank. The food bank provides food insecurity relief for around 2,000 students, and that number has been rising, Powerplay Cup Coordinator Theresa Eberhardt said. The money raised from the tournament is used to buy food and toiletries for the Campus Food Bank, which Eberhardt explained relies solely on donations.

“In addition to raising money, we also want to raise awareness of food insecurity on campus,” Eberhardt said. “(We want to let) people in the community know there are a lot of students struggling with having enough money to get the daily food that they need.”

Players such as participant Kate Rolf were scattered throughout the Pavilion with their respective teams warming up between games. Having previously volunteered with the food bank, Rolf decided to return with a team of classmates from the Faculty of Education for the event she always looks forward to.

“I like the idea of tournaments that can show support for an organization,” Rolf said. “It gives the chance for people who may not have the opportunity or time for volunteering to support an organization by doing something they love like playing a sport and having fun.”

Joking about competition between teams, Rolf emphasized that the event is unlike other sports tournaments running only over a single day, which is most ideal for busy students. Her favorite aspect is that students get the chance to play a fun sport and be active while supporting a cause, she said.

With the competition’s prize of a 25-pound trophy, Eberhardt was excited to facilitate an event that raises money for the organization in students’ greatest time of need, as the food bank becomes busier at the end of the semester and during exams when students’ have little time to spare and tighter budgets.

“We’re hoping that the more exposure we have will encourage people to donate or if they are in need of some help to know that they can come to us,” Eberhardt said.