Jamie SarkonakThis Saturday the Campus Food Bank will be scoring donations at the Power Play Cup indoor soccer tournament.
The 11th annual tournament will host 15 teams from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Universiade Pavillion on March 25. Each team must fundraise at least $300, with all proceeds going to the food bank’s budget, last year the event raised $3,300. Teams are also asked to bring food donations to the tournament — the team that donates the most food gets the ball at kickoff.
While the Campus Food Bank hosts several events each year, Alfie Kim, chair of the Power Play Cup, said the soccer tournament is one of the biggest.
“We are raising awareness,” he said. “Not just on campus but also in the outside community because anyone can register and participate in the tournament.”
Serving 2,500 clients in 2016, the Campus Food Bank has two staff members, a number of volunteers, and provides food to students, staff, and alumni in need. Demand for the service has increased by 31 per cent from fall 2015 to fall 2016.
Earlier this month, the food bank became a dedicated fee unit collected by the Students’ Union after a referendum passed with 83 per cent of the vote. Starting in 2017-18, students will pay $1 per semester to food bank, which will make up 30 to 35 per cent of their budget. Currently, most of its budget comes from individual donations and fundraisers such as the Power Play Cup.
“We’re doing this tournament to have fun and play indoor soccer,” Kim said. “But the money that we raise will fund the Campus Food Bank.”
Not everyone who participates in the tournament is a pro, Kim said. Only one player on each team is allowed to be a varsity soccer player, and there is a mercy rule wherein the score stops if one team gains a seven-point lead. At the end, players will be rewarded with free tickets to an afterparty.
“Some teams are really good while some teams are rather elementary,” Kim said. “But we all have fun.”
